Animals are set to replace historical figures on Bank of England notes in the biggest such change since the 1960s
The Bank of England is planning on replacing historical figures on banknotes with animals – chosen by the public.
Gone will be Sir Winston Churchill on the £5, Jane Austen on the £10, JMW Turner on the £20, and Alan Turing on the £50 note. Instead, they will feature a selection of wildlife, native to the UK, from a list that includes as options a dolphin, a fox, a butterfly, an owl, a bumblebee and a shark.
They will appear on the next series of banknotes – which will continue to feature the monarch on the other side – when they are updated in the coming years..
The list has been grouped into three categories, covering a variety of species and environments. Each banknote will feature a different animal.
The public are being asked to select up to two examples from each category in the consultation, which runs until 11.59pm on July 3.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will make the final decision, taking into account feedback from the public.
The Bank said it wants to hear views in particular from residents of the UK and British citizens living abroad. They can be submitted via the Bank’s website or by post. The Bank will announce the outcome of its consultation by the end of 2026.
Victoria Cleland, Bank of England 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 shortlisted animals demonstrate the rich variety of wildlife we have to celebrate in the UK.”
Historical figures have been showcased on Bank of England banknotes since 1970. The first of the current series has been in circulation since 2016, when £5 banknotes featuring Sir Winston Churchill were issued.
The rise in payments technology such as contactless and mobile wallets has given people an increasing array of alternatives to banknotes and coins.
Cash remains the preferred payment method for about one in seven people and is used by many more, the Bank said.
The amount of cash in circulation has also continued to increase, reaching £91.5 billion at the end of February 2026.
Shortlist
Mammals
Bottlenose dolphin
Brown hare
European hedgehog
Grey seal
Pine marten
Red fox
Birds
Atlantic puffin
Barn owl
Common kingfisher
Eurasian curlew
Great spotted woodpecker
White-tailed eagle
Amphibians, insects and fish
Atlantic salmon
Basking shark
Buff-tailed bumblebee
Common frog
Emperor dragonfly
Marsh fritillary butterfly
