Bank of England Launches Consultation on Replacing Historical Figures with UK Animals on Next Banknote Series

The Bank of England opened a public consultation on Wednesday to select animals that will appear as central images on the next series of £5, £10, £20 and £50 banknotes. The consultation runs until 11:59pm on July 3, and participants may choose up to two animals from each of three categories. Only animals on the Bank’s shortlist may be selected as central images.

The shortlist contains 18 species grouped into mammals, birds, and amphibians, insects and fish. The mammals category includes the bottlenose dolphin, brown hare, European hedgehog, grey seal, pine marten and red fox. The birds category lists the Atlantic puffin, barn owl, common kingfisher, Eurasian curlew, great spotted woodpecker and white-tailed eagle.

The amphibians, insects and fish category comprises the Atlantic salmon, basking shark, buff-tailed bumblebee, common frog, emperor dragonfly and marsh fritillary butterfly. The Bank said each denomination must feature a distinct animal representing different environments across the UK. It added that the four animals chosen may not be those receiving the highest number of votes.

Central images will also incorporate additional elements from wildlife and nature. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will make the final selection after reviewing public feedback. The Bank will announce the outcome by the end of 2026.

It will be several years before the new notes enter circulation because of the multi-year design, testing and printing process required. The consultation follows the Bank’s March 2026 announcement that nature would be the theme for the next series. That theme received the highest proportion of nominations in the previous consultation and strong support in focus groups.

Much of the feedback referred to UK-native wildlife. The Bank said the next series must remain easy to distinguish by denomination and will continue to include a portrait of the monarch. Victoria Cleland, the Bank’s chief cashier, said: “I very much hope the public will enjoy engaging in our consultation to choose the animals to feature on our next series of banknotes.

The Bank stated that representation of the home nations will be an important design feature. It invited submissions from UK residents and British citizens living abroad via its website or by post. The current series of banknotes entered circulation in 2016 with £5 notes featuring Sir Winston Churchill.

The existing notes carry portraits of Jane Austen on the £10, JMW Turner on the £20 and Alan Turing on the £50. Historical figures have appeared on Bank of England notes since 1970. The Bank said cash remains the preferred payment method for about one in seven people.

5 billion at the end of February 2026. The next series is intended to increase counterfeit resilience and incorporate the latest anti-counterfeiting technology.