Is Cox & Kings a good company to book a luxury trip with?
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 4 November 2026
Cox & Kings was founded in London in 1758 and joined the AKTG family in 2019. It organises escorted small-group tours and private tailormade travel. Bookings are contracted with Abercrombie & Kent Limited, trading as Cox and Kings.
Is Cox & Kings a good company to book a luxury trip with?
It depends on what you need: Cox & Kings suits travellers who want an escorted small-group tour, usually around 14 guests and often with a specialist lecturer, or a private tailormade trip, booked with a deposit of at least 15% and required travel insurance.
Does Cox & Kings meet the Uncompromised Travel definition of luxury?
What Cox & Kings's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Not settled from its website: The pages read on 3 November 2026 do not settle it. It runs escorted small-group tours that rarely exceed 18 guests and private tailormade trips. It describes its hotels as charming and characterful rather than by a luxury standard. Source
- Our definition: A company meets it when it mainly sells private trips at a luxury standard, publishes prices of about US$500 per person per day or more, runs groups of 16 or fewer in luxury hotels, or runs its own small expedition ships or yachts. Each fact above is what its website says; the definition is ours. Source
What does it sell?
What Cox & Kings's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- What it sells: Organises escorted small-group tours and private tailormade travel. Source
- Tailormade: Lets travellers choose their own mix of experiences, countries, itineraries and places. Source
- Group size: Its tour groups rarely exceed 18 guests and usually number around 14. Source
- Solo tours: Its solo-traveller tours take no more than 14 guests. Source
- Hotels: Partners with comfortable hotels in historic buildings or well-placed locations. Source
Who is behind it?
What Cox & Kings's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Legal entity: Its booking contract is with Abercrombie & Kent Limited, trading as Cox and Kings, of St George's House, Ambrose Street, Cheltenham, registered in England under company number 1082430. Source
- Founded: Richard Cox established the firm in London on 25 May 1758. Source
- Ownership: Joined the AKTG family in 2019. Source
- Offices: Opened its New York City office in 1988. Source
- Reach: Has offices and partners in more than 100 countries. Source
- Guides: All its tours are guided and supported by local and tour managers. Source
- Lecturers: Many of its tours have specialist lecturers from academia, publishing and the museum sector. Source
What are its deposit and cancellation terms?
What Cox & Kings's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Deposit: Its booking conditions ask a minimum deposit of 15% of the total booking cost. Source
- Balance: Under its booking conditions, the balance is due 75 days before departure. Source
- Late booking: Its booking conditions ask for full payment at booking when you book within 75 days of departure. Source
- Late booking, how-to-book page: Its how-to-book page asks for full payment at booking when you book within 90 days of departure. Source
- Cancellation scale: Cancelling 75 days or more before departure costs the deposit; 60 to 74 days costs 30% of the total booking cost, 30 to 59 days 60%, 15 to 29 days 90% and 14 days or less 100%. Source
- Fixed arrangements: Some arrangements cannot be changed once confirmed; cancelling them can cost up to 100% of that part as well as the charges above. Source
- Stricter terms: Stricter cancellation conditions may apply at peak season or for some game lodges and cruises. Source
- Charges: Cancellation charges are deducted from money already paid. Source
What help is there while you travel?
What Cox & Kings's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- Around the clock: A well-informed person is available online, by phone and on the ground around the clock. Source
- Insurance required: All travellers must hold appropriate travel insurance as a condition of booking. Source
- Insurance sales: Is not regulated to sell travel insurance. Source
What awards and certifications does it name?
What Cox & Kings's own website says, read 3 November 2026.
- British Travel Awards 2025: Won the Best Small Travel Company: Arts & Culture category at the 2025 British Travel Awards. Source
How is Cox & Kings rated?
Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 1,221 reviews, newest 23 October 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
Cox & Kings: the questions people ask
How old is Cox & Kings?
Richard Cox established the firm in London on 25 May 1758.
Who owns Cox & Kings?
It joined the AKTG family in 2019. Bookings are contracted with Abercrombie & Kent Limited, trading as Cox and Kings.
Does Cox & Kings run group tours or private trips?
Both: escorted small-group tours and private tailormade travel.
How big are Cox & Kings groups?
They rarely exceed 18 guests and usually number around 14; solo-traveller tours take no more than 14.
Who leads Cox & Kings tours?
Local and tour managers guide all its tours; many have specialist lecturers from academia, publishing and the museum sector.
How much deposit does Cox & Kings take?
A minimum of 15% of the total booking cost, with the balance due 75 days before departure under its booking conditions.
What does Cox & Kings charge if I cancel?
Under its booking conditions: the deposit at 75 days or more before departure, 30% of the total booking cost at 60 to 74 days, 60% at 30 to 59 days, 90% at 15 to 29 days and 100% at 14 days or less. Stricter terms may apply at peak season or for some game lodges and cruises.
Do I need insurance to travel with Cox & Kings?
Yes. Appropriate travel insurance is a condition of booking. Cox & Kings is not regulated to sell it.
Where can I check these facts myself?
Every line on this page links the page of the company's own website it was read from, read 3 November 2026.
Is any company on this page paying to be here?
No. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel; none paid to be on it.
Read next
Built to answer the question in the main heading. What is shown: what each company published on its own website, read on 3 November 2026, with links to the pages read, with its Google and Trustpilot figures where the listing carries the company's own name, from the Uncompromised Travel luxury tour operators table. Cards are in alphabetical order. Photos show the places named in their captions, not any company's trips. No company on this page is a partner of Uncompromised Travel. How this site earns · How we work.