This year, the world�s longest established travel company, Cox & Kings, celebrates its 250th anniversary. The company�s history dates back to 1758, when Richard Cox was appointed regimental agent to the Foot Guards (later the Grenadier Guards). Cox was responsible for arranging officers� payment, organising the provision of clothing and overseeing the buying and selling of officers� commissions. By the end of the 18th century, Cox & Co acted as agents for 14 regiments of cavalry, 64 infantry regiments and 17 militia regiments, becoming the largest military agent for the army.

Since then, its operations as Cox & Co, and subsequently Cox & Kings, have included banking, shipping and travel. Today, as an upmarket tour operator, the company has operations in London, the USA, Japan and throughout India.

Cox & Kings� Managing Director, Peter Kerkar, said: �Our company has had a long and illustrious history. Richard Cox�s remarkable success was built on a reputation for integrity, attention to detail and reliability. Today, 250 years on, these same values underpin all our operations and create a heightened sense of responsibility for all of us at Cox & Kings. 2008 is an extraordinary landmark year for us and we embark on the company�s second 250 years with a continuing sense of adventure.�

Cox & Kings organises escorted small-group tours and private tailor-made travel in six core regions of specialisation: the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, the Far East and Europe.

For 2008, Cox & Kings has further expanded its programme, and is featuring a number of countries for the first time, including Tunisia, Rwanda, the Falkland Islands, Georgia and Armenia. It is also running a number of expert-led tours: India with John Sergeant, Southern China with Douglas Hurd, and Cuba with Lord Hattersley.

-Ends-

For more information on the history of Cox & Kings, or on any of its destinations, please contact: Laura Smith, Tel: 020 7873 5006 or Email: laura.smith@coxandkings.co.uk