The Bank of England intends to swap out historical figures on banknotes with animals selected by the public. Notable faces like Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 note, Jane Austen on the £10, JMW Turner on the £20, and Alan Turing on the £50 will be replaced. Instead, the new banknotes will showcase various UK wildlife options including a dolphin, fox, butterfly, owl, bumblebee, and shark.
The upcoming series of banknotes will incorporate these wildlife designs alongside the monarch’s depiction on the reverse side during the upcoming updates. The selection process involves grouping the animals into three categories, ensuring a diverse range of species and environments represented on each banknote.
The public is invited to participate in the consultation by choosing up to two animals from each category. The consultation period runs until July 3, with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey making the final decision based on public input. The Bank encourages feedback from UK residents and British citizens abroad, which can be submitted online or by mail. The consultation results will be disclosed by the end of 2026.
Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England chief cashier, expressed enthusiasm for public engagement in selecting the next banknote animals, highlighting the diverse wildlife in the UK. Historical figures have adorned Bank of England banknotes since 1970, with the current series featuring Sir Winston Churchill on the £5 notes since 2016.
Despite the growth of payment technologies like contactless and mobile wallets, cash remains a favored payment method for approximately one in seven individuals, according to the Bank. The circulation of cash has risen, amounting to £91.5 billion by February 2026.
The shortlisted animals for the new banknotes include various mammals like the bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten, and red fox. Bird options comprise the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker, and white-tailed eagle. Amphibians, insects, and fish selections feature the Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly, and marsh fritillary butterfly.
