When you move into a new house or apartment, introduce yourself to the people who live near you. Getting to know your neighbours can help you to become part of the community and make friends. Your neighbours are also a good source of help - for example, they may be willing to feed your pets if you are away, or offer advice on local shops and services. You can help prevent any problems and conflicts with your neighbours by respecting their privacy and limiting how much noise you make. Also try to keep your garden tidy, and only put your refuse bags and bins on the street or in communal areas if they are due to be collected.

It was during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD that the first Christian communities began to appear in Britain.

James Il’s elder daughter, Mary, was married to her cousin William of Orange, the Protestant ruler of the Netherlands. In 1688, important Protestants in England asked William to invade England and proclaim himself king.

At the beginning of the Middle Ages, Ireland was an independent country. The English first went to Ireland as troops to help the Irish king and remained to build their own settlements.

If judges find that a public body is not respecting someone’s legal rights, they can order that body to change its practices and/or pay compensation.

There are several British overseas territories in other parts of the world, such as St Helena and the Falkland Islands. They are linked to the UK but are not a part of it.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have parliaments or assemblies of their own, with devolved powers in defined areas.

In 2007, television viewers voted Wastwater as Britain’s favourite view.

Henry VIll was succeeded by his son Edward VI, who was strongly Protestant.

St Augustine led missionaries from Rome, who spread Christianity in the south. St Augustine became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

In the UK, people often enjoy a gamble on sports or other events. There is a National Lottery for which draws are made every week. You can enter by buying a ticket or a scratch card. People under 16 are not allowed to participate in the National Lottery. Note: As of April 2021, the minimum age to buy a lottery ticket or scratch card has been increased to 18.

Some words in modern English - for example, ‘park’ and ‘beauty’ - are based on Norman French words. Others - for example, ‘apple’, ‘cow’ and ‘summer’ - are based on Anglo-Saxon words.

Belfast is located in Northern Ireland. It is also the capital city of Northern Ireland.

Since 2000, British armed forces have been engaged in the global fight against international terrorism and against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, including operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mahomet was born in 1759 and grew up in the Bengal region of India. In 1810 he opened the Hindoostane Coffee House in George Street, London. It was the first curry house to open in Britain.

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer. He often read and performed his work in public, including for the BBC. His most well-known works include the radio play Under Milk Wood and the poem Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.

Many people in the UK are waiting for organ transplants. You can register to be an organ donor, which can make it easier for your family to decide whether to donate your organs when you die. Living people can also donate a kidney.

Selling or buying drugs such as heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis is illegal in the UK. Criminal law relates to crimes, which are usually investigated by the police or another authority such as a council, and which are punished by the courts.

The UN was set up after the Second World War and aims to prevent war and promote international peace and security.

The small claims procedure is an informal way of helping people to settle minor disputes without spending a lot of time and money using a lawyer. This procedure is used for claims of less than £10,000 in England and Wales and £3,000 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

‘Great Britain’ refers only to England, Scotland and Wales, not to Northern Ireland.

Sir William Walton (1902-83) wrote a wide range of music, from film scores to opera. He wrote marches for the coronations of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth |I but his best-known works are probably Façade, which became a ballet, and Belshazzar’s Feast, which is intended to be sung by a large choir.

Diwali normally falls in October or November and lasts for five days. It is often called the Festival of Lights. It is celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and the gaining of knowledge. There are different stories about how the festival came about. There is a famous celebration of Diwali in Leicester.

A lot of people in the UK have pets such as cats or dogs. They might have them for company or because they enjoy looking after them. It is against the law to treat a pet cruelly or to neglect it.