Key dates in British history
These are the most commonly tested dates from the official handbook. Dates highlighted with a tinted background appear more frequently in the test and are worth extra attention.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 55 BC | Julius Caesar led a Roman invasion of Britain |
| AD 43 | Emperor Claudius invaded and Britain became part of the Roman Empire |
| AD 410 | The Romans left Britain |
| 600 | Anglo-Saxon kingdoms established across Britain |
| 789 | The Vikings first invaded Britain |
| 1066 | William the Conqueror defeated Harold II at the Battle of Hastings |
| 1215 | Magna Carta signed by King John at Runnymede |
| 1284 | Statute of Rhuddlan — Edward I introduced English law to Wales |
| 1314 | Battle of Bannockburn — Robert the Bruce defeated the English |
| 1348 | The Black Death reached Britain, killing roughly a third of the population |
| 1415 | Battle of Agincourt — Henry V defeated the French |
| 1455–1485 | Wars of the Roses between the Houses of Lancaster and York |
| 1485 | Battle of Bosworth Field — Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, beginning Tudor rule |
| 1509 | Henry VIII became king |
| 1534 | Act of Supremacy — Henry VIII became head of the Church of England |
| 1558 | Elizabeth I became queen, beginning the Elizabethan era |
| 1588 | The English defeated the Spanish Armada |
| 1603 | James VI of Scotland became James I of England (union of the crowns) |
| 1642 | English Civil War began between Royalists and Parliamentarians |
| 1649 | Charles I executed; England became a republic under Oliver Cromwell |
| 1660 | Restoration of the monarchy — Charles II returned to the throne |
| 1679 | Habeas Corpus Act passed |
| 1688 | The Glorious Revolution — William of Orange invaded; James II fled |
| 1689 | Bill of Rights signed, limiting the power of the monarch |
| 1690 | Battle of the Boyne — William III defeated James II in Ireland |
| 1707 | Act of Union joined England and Scotland as Great Britain |
| 1776 | American Declaration of Independence — 13 colonies broke from Britain |
| 1801 | Act of Union created the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| 1805 | Battle of Trafalgar — Admiral Nelson defeated the Franco-Spanish fleet |
| 1807 | Slave trade abolished in the British Empire |
| 1815 | Battle of Waterloo — Duke of Wellington defeated Napoleon |
| 1832 | First Reform Act extended voting rights |
| 1833 | Emancipation Act abolished slavery throughout the British Empire |
| 1837 | Queen Victoria came to the throne; beginning of the Victorian era |
| 1853–1856 | Crimean War — Florence Nightingale reformed battlefield nursing |
| 1899–1902 | The Boer War in South Africa |
| 1914–1918 | First World War |
| 1918 | Women over 30 gained the right to vote |
| 1928 | Equal voting rights for men and women (over 21) |
| 1939–1945 | Second World War |
| 1945 | Clement Attlee elected; welfare state created including the NHS (1948) |
| 1948 | SS Empire Windrush — beginning of post-war immigration from the Caribbean |
| 1957 | Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community (EEC) |
| 1969 | Voting age lowered to 18 |
| 1973 | UK joined the European Economic Community |
| 1998 | Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Northern Ireland |
| 1999 | Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly created through devolution |
| 2002 | Euro currency introduced in EU countries; the UK kept the pound |
| 2016 | EU referendum — the UK voted to leave the European Union |
Key historical figures
The test frequently asks about these historical figures. Knowing who they were and why they matter will help with both direct questions and contextual understanding.
Ancient & Medieval
Queen of the Iceni tribe who led a revolt against the Romans in AD 60/61.
Sent by the Pope to spread Christianity in England; became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in AD 596.
Anglo-Saxon king who united much of England and defeated the Vikings.
Duke of Normandy who defeated Harold II at Hastings in 1066 and became King of England.
King of Scotland who defeated the English at Bannockburn (1314) and secured Scottish independence.
Author of The Canterbury Tales, one of the first major works of English literature.
Tudor & Stuart
Tudor king who broke with Rome, established the Church of England, and had six wives.
Last Tudor monarch; presided over the Elizabethan era, the defeat of the Spanish Armada, and the works of Shakespeare.
Playwright and poet widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Works include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Led the Parliamentary forces in the English Civil War; ruled as Lord Protector after Charles I was executed.
Mathematician and scientist who discovered the laws of gravity and motion.
Restored the monarchy in 1660 after the period of the Commonwealth.
Georgian & Victorian
Scotland's national poet, author of Auld Lang Syne and other celebrated poems.
Naval commander who defeated Napoleon's fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805; died during the battle.
Military leader who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815; later became Prime Minister.
Reigned from 1837 to 1901, the longest reign until Elizabeth II. The British Empire expanded enormously during her time.
Engineer who designed the Great Western Railway, bridges, tunnels, and the SS Great Britain steamship.
Pioneer of modern nursing who reformed care during the Crimean War.
Suffragette leader who campaigned for women's right to vote. Founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU).
Victorian novelist known for Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, and Great Expectations.
Modern
Prime Minister during the Second World War (1940–1945); led Britain through the Blitz and to victory. Also PM 1951–1955.
Post-war Prime Minister (1945–1951) who created the welfare state and the National Health Service.
Scottish scientist who discovered penicillin in 1928, revolutionising medicine.
Welsh poet and writer known for Under Milk Wood and Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night.
First female Prime Minister (1979–1990); known for economic reforms and the Falklands War.
Welsh-born author of popular children's books including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda.
British computer scientist who invented the World Wide Web.
Key facts: Government & Politics
- The UK is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy.
- The monarch is the head of state; the Prime Minister is the head of government.
- Parliament has two houses: the House of Commons (elected MPs) and the House of Lords (appointed and hereditary peers).
- General elections must be held at least every five years. The party with the most MPs usually forms the government.
- The Speaker of the House of Commons chairs debates and keeps order.
- MPs represent constituencies and are elected using the first-past-the-post system.
- The Cabinet is made up of senior government ministers chosen by the Prime Minister.
- The Opposition is the second-largest party in the House of Commons; its leader leads the Shadow Cabinet.
- Devolved governments exist in Scotland (Scottish Parliament), Wales (Senedd Cymru), and Northern Ireland (Northern Ireland Assembly).
- The UK has no single written constitution; it is based on laws, conventions, and legal precedents.
- The judiciary is independent of government. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the UK.
- Local councils provide services such as education, housing, roads, and rubbish collection.
Key facts: The UK Today
- The UK is made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- The Crown Dependencies (Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man) are not part of the UK but are closely linked.
- The official currency is the pound sterling. The UK did not adopt the euro.
- The population of the UK is approximately 67 million.
- English is the official language. Welsh, Gaelic, and Scots are also spoken in parts of the UK.
- The UK is a multi-ethnic and multi-faith society with freedom of religion.
- The main Christian church in England is the Church of England (Anglican). In Scotland it is the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian).
- Important religious festivals include Christmas, Easter, Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Diwali, Hannukah, and Vaisakhi.
- The patron saints are: St George (England), St Andrew (Scotland), St David (Wales), and St Patrick (Northern Ireland).
- St George's Day is 23 April, St Andrew's Day is 30 November, St David's Day is 1 March, and St Patrick's Day is 17 March.
Key facts: Rights & Responsibilities
- All UK residents have the right to freedom of speech, fair trial, freedom of religion, and freedom from discrimination.
- The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
- You must obey the law, pay taxes, serve on a jury if called, and treat others with fairness and respect.
- Voting in elections is a civic duty (not legally compulsory) for UK citizens and qualifying Commonwealth citizens.
- Jury service is a legal duty; you may be fined for not attending without a valid reason.
- Domestic violence, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM) are all criminal offences.
- Everyone has the right to equal treatment regardless of age, sex, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or gender reassignment (Equality Act 2010).
- You can stand for public office if you are a UK citizen, Commonwealth citizen, or citizen of an EU country.
Key facts: Culture & Traditions
- Guy Fawkes Night (5 November) commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
- Remembrance Day (11 November) honours those who died in armed conflict; people wear poppies.
- The Edinburgh Festival is the largest arts festival in the world.
- The National Eisteddfod is a Welsh festival celebrating literature, music, and performance.
- UK bank holidays include New Year's Day, Easter Monday, early May bank holiday, spring bank holiday, summer bank holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day.
- Cricket, football, rugby, tennis, and golf all originated in or were formalised in the UK.
- The Wimbledon Championships is the oldest tennis tournament in the world.
- The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world.
- Shakespeare's notable works include Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Merchant of Venice.
- The National Trust and English Heritage protect historic buildings and landscapes.
- There are 15 UK National Parks across England, Scotland, and Wales.
- The UK has a long tradition of volunteering; many charities and community organisations depend on volunteers.
Key facts: Law & Justice
- The minimum age for buying alcohol and tobacco is 18.
- You must be 17 to drive a car or motorcycle in the UK.
- It is illegal to carry a weapon, including a knife, in public without a valid reason.
- The police must treat everyone fairly and with respect. If you are arrested, you have the right to legal representation.
- Small claims for minor disputes can be settled in county courts (or sheriff courts in Scotland).
- Magistrates' Courts handle minor criminal cases; Crown Courts handle serious crimes with a judge and jury.
- Anti-social behaviour includes vandalism, excessive noise, and public drunkenness.
- The minimum voting age is 18 in UK general elections (16 in Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru elections).
Frequently asked questions
Are these revision notes enough to pass the test?
These notes cover the most commonly tested facts, but we recommend also practising with mock tests and questions to build active recall.
Where do these facts come from?
Every fact on this page comes from the official handbook, Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. We do not include supplementary content.
How should I use these revision notes?
Use them as a quick reference to review key facts before your test. Combine with practice questions for best results — reading alone is less effective than active recall.
Are the key dates the most important things to memorise?
Dates are important, but the test also asks about concepts, institutions, and cultural knowledge. Use dates as anchors for broader understanding.
Can I download these notes?
These notes are available free on this page. For offline study, Pass Britain's app includes all handbook content with audio lessons and spaced repetition.
Test yourself on these facts
Pass Britain has over 1,000 verified questions covering every fact on this page — with spaced repetition, audio lessons, and the Bertie AI tutor. All for £9.99 once, lifetime access.