London, United Kingdom. The Bank of England will feature images of animals on its next series of banknotes, shifting away from historical figures such as William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill and Jane Austen. The central bank said King Charles’ portrait will continue to appear on the new notes.
Nature theme selected for new series
Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier, said nature was chosen in part for banknote authentication and would allow the bank to showcase the United Kingdom’s wildlife.
Consultation results
The Bank of England held a public consultation in July 2025 on changing banknote designs. Nature was supported by 60% of 44,000 responses, ahead of “architecture and landmarks” at 56% and “notable historical figures” at 38%. Other categories included “arts, culture and sport”, “innovation” and “noteworthy milestones”.
Wildlife to be native and selected through further consultation
The bank said the notes will feature wildlife native to the United Kingdom and will not include household pets. It plans to run a second consultation in the coming months to gather views on specific animals, drawn from a list compiled by British wildlife experts.
Other banknote issuers in the UK
The Bank of England is not the only producer of banknotes in the United Kingdom, with notes also issued by seven commercial banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Which native UK animals would you like to see featured on the next Bank of England banknotes?
