The Bank of England intends to swap out historical figures on banknotes with animals selected by the public. Notable figures like Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner, and Alan Turing, currently featured on various denominations, will be replaced. The new banknotes will showcase wildlife indigenous to the UK, including options like a dolphin, fox, butterfly, owl, bumblebee, and shark.
These animal-themed banknotes will be part of the upcoming series, with the monarch continuing to appear on the reverse side. The public is invited to participate in the selection process by choosing up to two animals from each of the three categories outlined. The consultation period runs until July 3, and Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will make the final decision after considering public feedback.
Residents of the UK and British citizens abroad are encouraged to share their opinions on the banknote designs, which can be submitted online or via post. The Bank plans to reveal the chosen animals by the end of 2026. Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier, emphasized the diversity of wildlife in the UK and hopes the public will engage in the consultation.
Banknotes in the UK have traditionally featured historical figures since 1970, with the current series introduced in 2016 starting with the £5 banknotes featuring Sir Winston Churchill. Despite the rise of contactless and mobile payment technologies, cash remains a popular choice for many, with the amount of cash in circulation reaching £91.5 billion by February 2026.
The shortlist of animals for the new banknotes includes mammals like the bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten, and red fox. Birds such as the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker, and white-tailed eagle are also contenders. Additionally, options from the amphibians, insects, and fish category include the Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly, and marsh fritillary butterfly.