Thames & Kosmos UK (originally Science Shop) was founded in 2009 by Stephen O’Connor and Joanna Drage, who recognised the need for new designs of quality science kits in the UK when buying toys for their children. Thames and Kosmos US’ products were perfect, and so they began to sell the kits as an online retailer. Soon the order volume was big enough to buy directly from their supplier Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH & Co. KG — or Kosmos for short. Kosmos offered Science Shop the UK distributorship for their products, and Thames and Kosmos UK was born. In 2013, Kosmos — based in Stuttgart, Germany, and founded in 1822, purchased 80% of Thames and Kosmos UK, making it a subsidiary. Now UK children can experience the same nurturing enrichment that generations of German children have experienced whilst growing up around the fun and educational Kosmos Science kits.

In 2015 Thames and Kosmos added board games via Kosmos Games to its portfolio, from world-renowned authors and Kosmos’ outstanding editing department, and soon after added their magic kits and globes.

Thames & Kosmos UK distribute English language Kosmos products globally, with the exception of North and South America.