What Tangney Tours does

Tangney Tours Limited is a privately-held UK tour operator founded in 1974 and headquartered in Borough Green, Kent. The company specialises exclusively in Catholic pilgrimages and faith-based cultural tours, with a destination portfolio spanning Lourdes (France), Italy (Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence), Fatima and Avila (Portugal/Spain), the Holy Land, Poland, Medjugorje, Malta, Turkey, and Knock (Ireland). It operates fully-inclusive package tours combining flights, accommodation, transfers, guided visits, and spiritual programmes such as daily Mass and torchlight processions, and bundles automatic comprehensive travel insurance covering pre-existing conditions up to age 95.

The company's go-to-market combines direct sales (website, phone, email) with a diocesan channel: it holds operational partnerships with at least 11 UK Catholic dioceses — Westminster, Birmingham, Brentwood, Edinburgh, Hallam, Hexham & Newcastle, Leeds, Nottingham, Paisley, Shrewsbury, and Welsh National — plus faith-based organisations such as the Society of Our Lady of Lourdes (SOLL) and the Society of Mary. These diocesan relationships drive large group pilgrimages featuring assisted pilgrims, volunteer helpers, medical teams, and clergy, with named parish priests often leading specific tours. Product pricing ranges from £260pp for a Eurostar day trip to Paris up to £2,690pp for a 7-night Italy pilgrimage, with bookings structured around deposits and balances due ten weeks before departure.

The business holds ATOL licence (number 1220), ABTA, ABTOT, and AITO accreditations, providing regulated financial protection that constitutes a meaningful market-entry barrier. Tangney Tours operates as an independent, family/owner-managed private limited company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 03585640), with no disclosed external investment, no subsidiaries, and no M&A activity. Its competitive position rests on 50+ years of accumulated brand trust, deep diocesan relationships, and curated accommodation partnerships across destinations.

Name

Tangney Tours

Legal name

Tangney Tours Limited

Website

https://tangney-tours.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tangney Tours is a UK-based Catholic pilgrimage and cultural tour operator, founded in 1974 and based in Kent. It arranges fully-inclusive pilgrimages to Lourdes, Italy, Fatima, the Holy Land, Poland, Malta, and other sacred sites for individual travellers, parish groups, and UK Catholic dioceses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Tourism / Pilgrimage Tour Operator

NAICS

Tour Operators (56152), Tour Operators (561520), Travel Agencies (56151)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Pilgrimage Packages (Air-Inclusive) Tour Operators (THAKAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pilgrimage Packages (Land-Only) Tour Operators (THAKAHAJ), Faith-Based Group Travel (Church/Mosque/Temple) Organizers (THAKAHAH), Religious Festival & Event Travel (e.g., Kumbh Mela, World Youth Day) Agencies (THAKAHAN), Religious & Sacred Sites Tours (THAJAAAF), Pilgrimage Logistics & Visa/Permit Specialists (THAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Catholic pilgrimage tours
• Religious group travel
• Diocesan pilgrimage packages
• Lourdes pilgrimage operator
• Inclusive tour packages

Headquarters

HQ city

Borough Green

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Package Tours: Fully inclusive package tours combining flights, accommodation, transfers, guiding, and spiritual programmes. Prices include transportation costs, known taxes, guiding and other confirmed items.
2. Group Pilgrimage Services: Services for organised diocesan and parish group pilgrimages including assisted pilgrims, helpers, medical teams, and clergy.
3. Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance automatically included with all tours for UK residents travelling to Europe, covering individuals up to age 95 and pre-existing conditions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tangney Tours is a UK pilgrimage tour operator that designs and delivers fully inclusive package tours to Catholic religious destinations including Lourdes, Rome and Assisi, Fatima, the Holy Land, Poland, Malta, Turkey, and Medjugorje. Packages bundle flights, accommodation, transfers, guiding, and a spiritual programme (daily Mass, processions, sanctuary visits), and the company additionally operates large diocesan pilgrimages in partnership with UK Catholic dioceses. Comprehensive travel insurance is automatically included for UK residents as part of every booking.

Product overview

Tangney Tours is a pilgrimage and cultural tour specialist operating since 1974, offering a portfolio of organized pilgrimages and group tours. The core product consists of religious pilgrimages to destinations including Lourdes (France), Rome/Assisi/Siena/Florence (Italy), Fatima (Portugal), Poland, Malta, and Turkey. The company operates both direct-booking group tours and diocesan pilgrimage packages in partnership with Catholic dioceses across the UK. Accommodation options include partner hotels at various destinations. A travel insurance add-on is automatically included with UK bookings. The company holds ATOL, ABTOT, ABTA, and AITO accreditations for financial protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pilgrimages and Tours Organised pilgrimages and cultural tours to religious destinations worldwide, including accommodation, flights, guided visits, and spiritual programmes. Offered to individual pilgrims, parish groups, schools, and community groups.
• Diocesan Pilgrimages Large group pilgrimages organised in partnership with Catholic dioceses (Westminster, Welsh National, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Brentwood, Edinburgh, Hallam, Hexham & Newcastle, Leeds, Nottingham, Paisley, and Society of Our Lady of Lourdes), including assisted pilgrims, helpers, medical teams, and clergy.
• Lourdes Pilgrimages 4-5 night pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France, including flights from UK airports, full board hotel accommodation, torchlight processions, and full pilgrimage programme. Multiple departure dates offered annually.
• Rome, Assisi, Siena & Florence Pilgrimage 7-night pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi, Siena and Florence including Papal Audience, St Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, and Tuscan countryside visits. Led by Reverend Alan Perry.
• Rome & Assisi Parish Pilgrimage Parish group pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi led by Fr Chris Thomas, including Papal Audience, guided tours, and visits to Holy Family Nottingham.
• Poland Pilgrimage Pilgrimage to Poland visiting Krakow, Czestochowa, Zakopane, Wadowice (John Paul II birthplace), Divine Mercy Basilica in Lagiewniki, and Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• Malta Parish Pilgrimage Parish pilgrimage to Malta led by Fr Joshua Hilton, visiting St Paul's Shipwreck Church, Mdina Cathedral, Ta' Pinu Basilica, and St John's Co-Cathedral.
• Fatima Pilgrimages Pilgrimages to Fatima, Portugal visiting the Sanctuary, Chapel of Apparitions, Rosary Basilica, and Holy Trinity Basilica.
• Paris Notre Dame Day Trip Day trip to Paris including visit to recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral, Sacre Coeur, and Rue de Bac, via Eurostar from St Pancras International. Includes comprehensive travel insurance.
• Turkey Pilgrimages Pilgrimages and tours to Turkey visiting Istanbul, Nicaea, Pergamon, Ephesus, Kusadasi and other biblical sites, including the Seven Churches of Revelation itinerary for groups of 20 or more.
• Travel Insurance Comprehensive travel insurance automatically included with all tours for UK residents travelling to Europe, covering individuals up to age 95 and pre-existing conditions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shrine of Lourdes visited by over 6 million people annually - company specialises in pilgrimages to this destination
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• ABTAcoreOthersAssociation of British Travel Agents - ABTA membership provides consumer protection, standards compliance, and credibility for Tangney Tours as a verified travel operator.
• Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL)coreOthersATOL licence holder (number 1220) providing financial protection for customers booking air-inclusive packages. Part of the UK government's approved financial protection scheme.
• Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO)coreOthersSpecialist travel association for independent tour operators providing marketing exposure, industry representation, and access to the AITO dispute settlement scheme.
• Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT)coreOthersABTOT provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for tours that do not include flights.
• Westminster DiocesecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWestminster Diocese manages their own Lourdes pilgrimage while Tangney Tours provides operational logistics support including travel arrangements.
• Parish of Holy Family NottinghammajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParish group pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi led by Fr Chris Thomas, with Tangney Tours handling all logistics including flights, accommodation, and transfers.
• Parish of St. Philip's (Fr Philip Knights)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParish group pilgrimage to Rome led by Fr Philip Knights.
• Society of Our Lady of Lourdes (SOLL)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSOLL runs annual pilgrimage to Lourdes with assisted pilgrims, helpers, medical teams, and clergy. Tangney Tours provides travel arrangements including flights and accommodation.
• Multiple UK DiocesescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnerships with Birmingham, Brentwood, Edinburgh, Hallam, Hexham & Newcastle, Leeds, Nottingham, Paisley, Shrewsbury, Welsh National dioceses for pilgrimage services.
• Hoteliers and Accommodation ProvidersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with hotels including Hotel Croix des Bretons (Lourdes), Hotel Eliseo (Lourdes), Hotel La Rocca (Assisi), Hotel Perseo (Florence), Hotel Wyspiański (Krakow), Steyler Fatima Hotel (Fatima), and others for pilgrim accommodation.
• EurostarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurostar rail services used for Paris day trips departing from St Pancras International.
• UK Airport PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with UK airports including London Stansted, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, Birmingham Airport, Manchester Airport, and Edinburgh Airport for flight departures.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Ave Maria Tours: US-based Catholic pilgrimage operator running Lourdes, Rome, Holy Land and Fatima trips for North American parish groups — same product category and church-partnership model but serving a different geography (US vs UK).

Broad incumbents

• Travel Department: Ireland-based escorted tour operator offering European guided tours including faith-themed itineraries — comparable customer demographic (UK/Ireland over-50s) but with a much broader non-religious portfolio.
• Riviera Travel: Large UK escorted-tour operator offering European itineraries across many destinations — overlaps with Tangney's guided-tour capability but as a broader, non-faith-specialist portfolio player.

Direct peers

• Pilgrim Journeys: UK Catholic pilgrimage specialist arranging group and individual pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima and other Marian shrines — comparable scale and ecclesiastical partnership model.
• Joe Walsh Tours: Ireland-based Catholic pilgrimage specialist operating since 1971, running Lourdes, Fatima, Rome/Assisi and Holy Land pilgrimages from Ireland — the closest direct comp to Tangney in geography, faith-focus and group-pilgrimage model.
• Mara Tours: UK pilgrimage tour operator running guided Catholic tours across Europe with parish and diocesan groups — directly comparable product line and target customer.
• Maranatha Tours: UK-based Christian pilgrimage and tour operator offering group pilgrimages to Lourdes, Rome, the Holy Land and Fatima — directly comparable product portfolio and church-partnership GTM.
• McCabe Pilgrimages: UK-based pilgrimage specialist (formerly McCabe Travel) operating faith-based tours to Lourdes, Rome, Holy Land and beyond — closely comparable niche focus and group pilgrimage model.
• Light Line Pilgrimages: Diocese of Portsmouth-affiliated pilgrimage provider serving Catholic groups to Lourdes and other shrines — comparable in faith focus and assisted-pilgrim handling.

Emerging players

• 365 Tours UK: Smaller UK pilgrimage and faith tour operator offering Lourdes, Rome and Holy Land trips — partial overlap with Tangney's destinations but at a smaller scale and more digitally-led approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tangneytoursuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/tangneytours
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tangney-tours

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tangney Tours