on 04-Jan-2015 (Sun)

In 1999 hereditary peers lost their automatic right to attend and now only a few are left.

Pantomime plays are a British tradition. Many theatres produce a pantomime at Christmas time. They are based on fairy stories

Prime Minister’s Questions takes place every week while Parliament is sitting.

In 1928, women were given the right to vote at 21, the same age as men

In 1918, women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote

From 1689 onwards there were two main groups in Parliament, known as the Whigs and the Tories.

In 1969, the voting age was reduced to 18 for men and women.

The Brit Awards is an annual event that gives awards to musicians in a range of categories

William of Normandy invaded England in 1066 and defeated Harold, the Saxon king of England, at the Battle of Hastings.

King Charles I believed that monarchs should be able to rule without approval from Parliament. This principle was one factor that led to the English Civil War in 1642.

n 1605 a group of Catholics led by Guy Fawkes failed in their plan to kill the Protestant king with a bomb in the Houses of Parliament.

During the English Civil War (King Charles I vs Parliament), supporters of the king were known as Cavaliers and supporters of Parliament were known as Roundheads.

‘The Restoration’ refers to the re-establishment of the monarchy in 1660, when Charles II returned from exile after being invited back by Parliament.

‘The Restoration’ refers to the re-establishment of the monarchy in 1660

Gilbert and Sullivan wrote comic operas, such as HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.

Since 1997, some power has been devolved from central government.

In 1999 the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly were established

Allotments are plots of land that can be rented for growing fruit and vegetables.

People under 16 are not allowed to participate in the National Lottery.

King John was forced by his noblemen to agree to the Magna Carta, which restricted the power of the monarchy in 1215.

County Courts deal with a wide range of civil disputes, including divorce and other family matters, and breaches of contract.

The Industrial Revolution was the rapid development of industry in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror.

There is a popular yearly rowing race on the River Thames between Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

At the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 Admiral Nelson defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet.

By the Act for the Government of Wales during the reign of King Henry VIII, Wales united with England.

If an MP dies or resigns, there will be a fresh election, called a by-election, in his or her constituency.

In the UK the first professional football clubs were formed in the late 19th century.

Charles II, whose father Charles I was executed at the end of the Civil War, was made king of Scotland by the Scots.

Charles II was forced into exile after being defeated by the English, but was restored to the throne of England in 1660 after the collapse of the republican Commonwealth.

The Proms is an eight-week summer season of orchestral classical music. It has been organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) since 1927.

The Proms is an eight-week summer season of orchestral classical music.

The Troubles is a term used to describe the conflict that has occurred in Ireland between those who wish the North and South of Ireland to unite and those who wish the North to remain British.

The Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

To be able to vote in a parliamentary, local or European election, you must have your name on the electoral register.

Richard Arkwright developed more efficient textile factory production during the 18th century.

Almost everybody in the UK who is in paid employment, including self-employed people, must pay National Insurance Contributions.

The money raised by National Insurance Contributions is used to pay for state benefits and services such as the state retirement pension and the National Health Service (NHS).

The vast number of people who died from the Black Death led to changes in the way society was structured. For example, new social classes appeared (including large landowners), and labour shortages meant that peasants demanded higher wages.

1 April is known as April Fool’s Day, when people play jokes on each other until midday.

Henry VIII is famous for breaking away from the Catholic Church of Rome and marrying six times.