With more of us considering domestic travel as the nationwide lockdown rules begin to ease, Andante Travels (www.andantetravels.co.uk, 01722 713 800) has unveiled a fascinating selection of UK-based short breaks that showcase the wealth of history and archaeology just waiting to be explored on our collective doorstep. New for 2021, these three and four-day guided tours cover everything from military history to T. E. Lawrence's – 'Lawrence of Arabia' – Dorset hotspots, and from ancient rock art set among stunning Scottish countryside to the great cathedrals of England's southwest. 

Each short break is led by an expert guide, whose insight and knowledge on the themes at hand will bring every site visited to life in engaging and memorable ways. Starting from just £495pp, this new collection will introduce guests to the unforgettable living histories within the United Kingdom. 

Colchester – Capital of Britannia
Join expert Peter Berridge on a 3-day exploration of Colchester, known to be the first Roman capital of Britannia. This city boasts some of the most important archaeological remains surviving from Roman Britain and guests will explore its Roman Circus (Britain's only one) in the company of Peter Crummy, the Director of the Colchester Archaeological Trust. Elsewhere, they will visit Colchester Castle, built on the foundation of the Temple of Claudius, and they will enjoy an in-depth exploration of the historically unique city of Colchester, the backdrop of the Boudiccan revolt.
Departs 25th June and 1st October | 3 days for £495pp. 

Wartime Britain – Dogfights and Double Agents
Military history enthusiasts will delight in this captivating short break, which offers an inside story of both the code-breakers and the Battle of Britain. Led by esteemed historian and author Colonel Paul Beaver, this 3-day tour explores the nerve centres of the Battle of Britain, at the headquarters of RAF Fighter Command, Bentley Priory and the Uxbridge Bunker, from which Air Vice-Marshal Park controlled the fight to protect London and the South-East of England. There is also a full day's visit to the ultra-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park.
Departs 1st March and 7th June | 3 days for £655pp.

Prehistoric Rock Art & Landscapes
Led by rock art specialist Dr Tertia Barnett, this unique 4-day exploration takes in sites located in Scotland's beautiful Kilmartin Glen. The extraordinary concentration of Neolithic and Bronze Age burial monuments, standing stones, and rock art in the glen and its surrounding hills all testify to the importance of this area 5,500-3,500 years ago. Highlights range from a visit to the prehistoric stone circle at Temple Wood, with its unique spiral carvings to a chance to discover the elaborate and enigmatic carved rocks at Cairnbaan and Baluacraig. Guests will also gaze upon the largest prehistoric carved rock in Britain, which can be found at Achnabreck.
Departs 13th May and 30th July | 4 days for £975pp. 

T. E. Lawrence in Dorset
Delve into the life and death of a controversial hero on this 3-day tour, which focuses on Colonel T. E. Lawrence – 'Lawrence of Arabia'. Guests will discover 'Lawrence sites' located within Dorset, from his home at Cloud's Hill and his tomb effigy at Wareham, to his burial place at Moreton and the home of his friend Thomas Hardy at Max Gate, in order to explore the character and role of T. E. Lawrence and attempt to sift fact from fiction. This trip is led by Dr Neil Faulkner, who co-directed the Great Arab Revolt Project, a 10-year investigation of the archaeology of 'Lawrence of Arabia's War'. There will also be special access to the Lawrence archive material at the Bovington Tank Museum.
Departs 11th June | 3 days for £685pp.

Great Cathedrals of the Southwest
Lovers of architecture and history will be enchanted by this 3-day tour of the southwest's most magnificent cathedrals. Explore Wells, Winchester and Salisbury in the expert company of Dr Emma J. Wells, historian and author. From the Norman Conquest to the 16th century Reformation, tour the length and breadth of the Middle Ages, with special behind-the-scenes access to these magnificent edifices. Immersed in the minds and lives of past masons and monarchs, this tour unravels the extraordinary construction of the cathedrals so intricately laced with the political, social, economic and cultural history of England.
Departs 25th March and 2nd September | 3 days from £535pp.

Behind the Scenes in Roman Kent
Roman Kent formed the vital link between the often-wayward province of Britannia and the continental Empire, with the English Channel the vital connective route between the two. This is a special behind-the-scenes tour of the region, led by the Kentish guide lecturer Dr Simon Elliott, which explores the new excavations taking place. The focus is on the east of today's county, visiting two Saxon Shore fort sites, including Reculver (Roman Regulbium), which defended the northern end of the Wantsum Channel (in the Roman period, a free-flowing waterway isolating the Isle of Thanet from the mainland, providing safe access from the English Channel through to the Thames Estuary without having to navigate the treacherous Goodwin Sands), and Richborough (Roman Rutupiae).
Departs 4th June and 24th September | 3 days for £565pp.

For the full range of new UK-based short breaks, click here. 

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For more information, call Andante Travels on 01722 713800 or visit https://www.andantetravels.co.uk/

For further media information, contact: Martha Whatley, Content Marketing and PR Executive, martha@specialistjourneys.com

Notes to editors 

Founded in 1985, Andante Travels – part of the Specialist Journeys group – has grown to become one of the UK's leading specialist tour operators. The company has previously won the 'Best Small Holiday Company for Customer Service' title at the prestigious British Travel Awards, and thanks to the wonderful support of its travellers, it won the Best Special Interest Holiday and Best Holiday Company to the Italian Peninsula & Malta categories at the 2018 British Travel Awards, and was also shortlisted for the Best Cultural Tour Operator in the 2018 Silver Travel Awards. In 2019, Andante made the shortlist for the Marketing Excellence prize at the South Wilts Business of the Year Awards. It won two prizes at the Luxury Lifestyle Magazine Readers' Travel Awards and, most recently, the company won silver for Best Special Interest Holiday Company and bronze for Best Holiday Company to the Italian Peninsula at the 2019 British Travel Awards.

Andante's tours have been named 'Trips of a Lifetime' by the National Geographic Traveler on five occasions and in 2018 it appointed Jackie Willis as its new CEO, who brought with her over 35 years of touring and travel experience. Over the years, the company has introduced thousands of people to the wonders of the ancient world. Its tours are all designed and led by renowned experts, who bring a unique, special insight to each site visited in every corner of the globe, and every one of its itineraries boasts exclusive access to either a museum or venue, a specific archaeological site or to a workshop. Andante's tours are peppered with hands-on, immersive experiences that offer an authentic taste of each destination and leave the guest with memories that will last long after they return home.