The role and membership of the House of Lords has changed over the last 50 years. Until 1958, all peers were ‘hereditary’, which means they inherited their title, or senior judges, or bishops of the Church of England.

In Ireland, many depended on potatoes as a large part of their diet. In the middle of the century the potato crop failed, and Ireland suffered a famine. A million people died from disease and starvation.

There are several islands which are closely linked with the UK but are not part of it: the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. These have their own governments and are called ‘Crown dependencies’.

The Blair government introduced a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly (now known as the Senedd), both were established in 1999. In Northern Ireland, the Blair government was able to build on the peace process, resulting in the Good Friday Agreement (1998) which led to the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

In 1815, the French Wars ended with the defeat of the Emperor Napoleon by the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo.

Civil war between the king and Parliament could not be avoided and began in 1642. The country split into those who supported the king (the Cavaliers) and those who supported Parliament (the Roundheads).

The denominations of currency in the UK in banknotes are: £5, £10, £20, £50.

In Scotland, 31 December is called Hogmanay and 2 January is also a public holiday. For some Scottish people, Hogmanay is a bigger holiday than Christmas. New Year, 1 January, is a public holiday. People usually celebrate on the night of 31 December (called New Year’s Eve).

Undercover shopping centres are common - these might be in town centres or on the outskirts of a town or city.

There are a few MPs who do not represent any of the main political parties. They are called ‘independents’ and usually represent an issue important to their constituency.

One of the most famous battles of the Hundred Years War was the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, where King Henry V’s vastly outnumbered English army defeated the French.

The most important planes used by the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain during the Second World War were the Spitfire and the Hurricane - which were designed and built in Britain.

MPs are elected through a system called ‘first past the post. In each constituency, the candidate who gets the most votes is elected.

There is a very long history of horse racing in Britain, with evidence of events taking place as far back as Roman times. There are racecourses all over the UK.

Charles I tried to impose his Prayer Book on the Presbyterian Church in Scotland and this led to serious unrest. A Scottish army was formed and Charles could not find the money he needed for his own army without the help of Parliament. In 1640, he recalled Parliament to ask it for funds.

Solicitors’ charges are usually based on how much time they spend on a case. It is very important to find out at the start how much a case is likely to cost.

A non-UK national living in the UK and looking for work, starting work or setting up as self-employed will need a National Insurance number. However, you can start work without one. If you have permission to work in the UK, you will need to telephone the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to arrange to get a National Insurance number.

British poetry is among the richest in the world. The Anglo-Saxon poem Beowulf tells of its hero’s battles against monsters and is still translated into modern English.

The House of Lords can suggest amendments or propose new laws, which are then discussed by MPs. It checks laws that have been passed by the House of Commons to ensure they are fit for purpose. It also holds the government to account to make sure that it is working in the best interests of the people. There are peers who are specialists in particular areas, and their knowledge is useful in making and checking laws.

A lot of people in the UK have pets such as cats or dogs. All dogs in public places must wear a collar showing the name and address of the owner. The owner is responsible for keeping the dog under control and for cleaning up after the animal in a public place.

Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934) was born in Worcester, England. His best-known work is probably the Pomp and Circumstance Marches. March No 1 (Land of Hope and Glory) is usually played at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Julius Caesar led a Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC. This was unsuccessful and for nearly 100 years Britain remained separate from the Roman Empire.

Political parties are particularly busy at election times. Members work hard to persuade people to vote for their candidates - for instance, by handing out leaflets in the street or by knocking on people’s doors and asking for their support. This is called ‘canvassing’.

Britain had a Conservative government from 1951 to1964 The 1950s were a period of economic recovery after the war and increasing prosperity for working people. The Prime Minister of the day, Harold Macmillan, was famous for his ‘wind of change’ speech about decolonisation and independence for the countries of the Empire.