James I and his son Charles I were less skilled politically. Both believed in the ‘Divine Right of Kings’: the idea that the king was directly appointed by God to rule. They thought that the king should be able to act without having to seek approval from Parliament.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was originally from Portsmouth, England. He was an engineer who built tunnels, bridges, railway lines and ships. He was responsible for constructing the Great Western Railway, which was the first major railway built in Britain. Many of Brunel’s bridges are still in use today.

The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The rest of Ireland is an independent country. ‘Great Britain’ refers only to England, Scotland and Wales, not to Northern Ireland.

In the 20th century, Sir Edwin Lutyens had an influence throughout the British Empire. He designed New Delhi to be the seat of government in India. After the First World War, he was responsible for many war memorials throughout the world, including the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

Benjamin Britten founded the Aldeburgh festival in Suffolk, which continues to be a popular music event of international importance.

Before the election you will be sent a poll card. This tells you where your polling station or polling place is and when the election will take place.

The Habeas Corpus Act became law in 1679. This was a very important piece of legislation which remains relevant today. Habeas corpus is Latin for ‘you must present the person in court’. The Act guaranteed that no one could be held prisoner unlawfully. Every prisoner has a right to a court hearing.

Sir lan Botham captained the English cricket team and holds a number of English Test cricket records, both for batting and for bowling.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, most minor criminal cases are dealt with in a Magistrates’ Court, and serious offences are tried in front of a judge and a jury in a Crown Court.

The traditional heavy industries such as shipbuilding were badly affected but new industries - including the automobile and aviation industries - developed. As prices generally fell, those in work had more money to spend. Car ownership doubled from 1 million to 2 million between 1930 and 1939.

IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) therapy for the treatment of infertility was pioneered in Britain by physiologist Sir Robert Edwards (1925-) and gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe (1913-88). The world’s first ‘test-tube baby’ was born in Oldham, Lancashire in 1978.

In 1947, independence was granted to nine countries, including India, Pakistan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Other colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific achieved independence over the next 20 years.

The Lake District is England’s largest national park. It covers 885 square miles (2,292 square kilometres). It is famous for its lakes and mountains and is very popular with climbers, walkers and sailors.

The Welsh government and the Senedd are based in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. There are 60 members of the Senedd (MSs) and elections are held every four years using a form of proportional representation.

The Romans remained in Britain for 400 years. They built roads and public buildings, created a structure of law, and introduced new plants and animals. The Roman Emperor Hadrian built a wall in the north of England to keep out the Picts (ancestors of the Scottish people). The Stonehenge was built by farmers that first arrived in Britain about 6,000 years ago.

Easter takes place in March or April. It marks the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday and his rising from the dead on Easter Sunday. Both Good Friday and the following Monday, called Easter Monday, are public holidays.

In the Middle Ages, Parliament began to develop into the institution it is today. Its origins can be traced to the king’s council of advisers, which included important noblemen and the leaders of the

The Monarch is the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth, which currently has 54 member states. India and Australia are member states of the Commonwealth.

Many of the great thinkers of the Enlightenment were Scottish. Scientific discoveries, such as James Watt’s work on steam power, helped the progress of the Industrial Revolution.

There are opportunities to volunteer with a wide range of local service providers, including local hospitals and youth projects. Services often want to involve local people in decisions about the way in which they work.

The population is very unequally distributed over the four parts of the UK. England more or less consistently makes up 84% of the total population, Wales around 5%, Scotland just over 8% and Northern Ireland less than 3%

If you are resident in the UK, your car or motor cycle must be registered at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). You must also have valid motor insurance.

MPs have a number of different responsibilities. They represent everyone in their constituency, help to create new laws, scrutinise and comment on what the government is doing, and debate important national issues.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962), directed by David Lean and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), directed by Mike Newell, are two of the many famous British films.