Lunn Poly
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel agency |
| Predecessor | Polytechnic Touring Association, Sir Henry Lunn Travel |
| Founded | 1965 |
| Fate | Acquired by TUI Travel in 2003; rebranded as Thomson in 2004 |
| Headquarters | London (relocated from Leamington Spa) , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Parent | Thomson Travel Group (from 1972), TUI Travel (from 2003) |
Lunn Poly was a prominent travel agency network in the UK, acquired by TUI Travel in 2003 and subsequently rebranded as Thomson by late 2004, becoming part of the wider Thomson Travel organization.
History
The origins of Lunn Poly trace back to two travel companies from the 1890s: the Polytechnic Touring Association and Sir Henry Lunn Travel, both known for pioneering winter sports and religious tour offerings. In the 1950s, these firms were purchased by the British Eagle airline group and merged to form Lunn Poly in 1965.
In 1969, the company was nationalized under the Transport Holding Company for £169,000 but suffered losses estimated around £1.2 million before being sold to Sunair in 1971 for £175,000. That same year, Sunair and Lunn Poly initiated the first Boeing 747 charter package holiday flight to Majorca. By 1972, Lunn Poly had become part of the Thomson Travel Group.
Lunn Poly introduced a novel approach by dividing leisure and corporate travel services, dedicating high street outlets to package holidays while establishing specialized offices for business clients. This strategy proved effective throughout the 1970s and 1980s, expanding to over 500 retail locations by the late 1980s and positioning it as the UK's largest travel agency by the mid-1990s. In 1995, it entered the £400 million holiday voucher sector to rival Thomas Cook, engaging in a competitive price war that reportedly cost around £10 million annually to increase market share. By 1998, it was recognized as the UK’s leading fully owned air-holiday retailer, selling 2.3 million air-inclusive holidays and capturing a 20% market share.
Around the year 2000, Lunn Poly rolled out new store designs including a megastore concept featuring dedicated sections for long-haul trips, short breaks, summer sun vacations, family holidays, and last-minute deals—the first such store opened in Leicester. A trial store focusing exclusively on family holidays in Coventry was eventually discontinued. Some outlets in South Wales adopted the Travel House brand due to stronger local recognition. By January 2003, megastore footprints were reduced from approximately 10,000 square feet to about 4,000 square feet, with a new concept store launched in Swansea.
After TUI UK acquired Thomson Travel and rebranded Britannia Airways as Thomsonfly in November 2003, there were initially no intentions to rename Lunn Poly. During this period, Lunn Poly’s headquarters relocated from Leamington Spa to London. In October 2004, TUI divested several Travel House Group stores to Martin Morgan Travel while confirming that remaining stores would retain the Lunn Poly name. However, on 2 November 2004, TUI declared that all Lunn Poly shops would be rebranded under the Thomson name.
Although the brand was discontinued in 2004, Lunn Poly Limited remained registered as a dormant company at TUI’s UK headquarters in Luton until its removal from Companies House records in June 2024. Notably, in 2011 a former employee was imprisoned for laundering £500,000 through a Glasgow-based Lunn Poly outlet between 2002 and 2003.
Lunn Poly Television
Launched on 1 June 2004 via Sky Digital, Lunn Poly Television aired for 18 hours daily. Produced by The Travel Channel and backed by a £1 million promotional campaign across Sky platforms, it was rebranded as Thomson TV before the end of that year as TUI phased out the Lunn Poly brand.
Advertising
Lunn Poly gained recognition through its enduring television advertisements that showcased astonished responses to its travel deals, accompanied by the memorable tagline "Lunn Poly? Get away!" In 2003, the firm revitalized the Getaway slogan as a key element of its updated marketing campaign.
Whispering Windows
Towards the end of 2003, Lunn Poly launched the Whispering Windows concept, created by Newlands Scientific, which allowed shop windows to communicate directly with shoppers, enhancing customer interaction. This technological advancement led to an approximate 42% rise in store visits during its initial week.