For more than 50 years, the reverse side of British banknotes has been home to portraits of historical figures. Winston Churchill appeared on the £5 note, writer Jane Austen on the £10, painter JMW Turner on the £20, and mathematician Alan Turing on the £50. In July 2025, the Bank of England — the UK's central bank — asked the public whether it was time for a change, and what that change should look like.
The result was unambiguous. More than 44,000 people responded to the consultation. Nature was the most popular theme, chosen by 60% of respondents. Architecture and landmarks came second at 56%, followed by notable historical figures at 38%.
On March 11, 2026, the Bank of England announced that the next generation of British banknotes will feature images of native British wildlife. Household pets will not be included. The new notes will continue to carry a portrait of the monarch.
The specific animals to appear on the notes have not yet been chosen. The Bank has assembled a panel of wildlife experts from across the UK to draw up a shortlist, and a second public consultation is planned for summer 2026, in which people will be able to vote on which species they would like to see. Contenders could include red squirrels, otters, puffins, kingfishers, or any number of creatures native to Britain's varied landscapes.
Victoria Cleland, Chief Cashier at the Bank of England, noted that wildlife imagery also serves a practical purpose: distinctive animal shapes and features make it significantly harder to counterfeit a banknote, and easier for the public to spot the difference between genuine and fake notes at a glance.
The new notes are still several years away from being issued. But the decision has been made — and for the first time since the 1960s, British banknotes will carry something other than a human face.