Dolphins, foxes and butterflies among animals which could feature on new UK banknotes
The familiar faces of historical figures on Bank of England banknotes will be replaced by vibrant British wildlife.
Animals that may appear on banknotes in the future include dolphins, foxes, butterflies, owls, bumblebees and sharks.
The central bank has launched a public consultation inviting people to share their views on a selection of UK native animals proposed for the next series of currency.
Collaborating with a panel of wildlife experts, the Bank has produced a short list of species divided into three groups that could adorn £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes.
Each denomination will have a different animal.
The public is encouraged to choose a maximum of two examples from each category in the consultation, which will remain open until 23.59 on July 3.
The bank clarified that only the animals from this pre-selected shortlist were eligible to be the main visuals for the new series and that no alternative nominations were sought.
The bank announced in July last year that it would begin work on designing the next series of banknotes in order to increase resistance to counterfeiting.
In March 2026, the Bank announced that nature had been chosen as the theme for the next series of banknotes. The issue received the highest number of nominations in last year’s consultations, as well as support in focus groups.
Much of the feedback received by the bank was about wildlife native to the UK.
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Each banknote denomination will need to be easily distinguished, he said.
The bank said it was important to have four different animals in four denominations and that they could represent different environments across the UK.
Given this, the Bank may not necessarily choose the four animals that received the highest number of responses, he said.
Additional elements from wildlife and nature will also be included in the main images.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will make the final decision, taking into account feedback from the public.
The bank said it was particularly interested in hearing from UK residents and British nationals living abroad. It can be sent via the bank’s website or by mail.
The bank will announce the outcome of the consultation by the end of 2026.
The bank said it would take several years to launch the next series, which involves a detailed, multi-year process required to design, test and print the banknotes.
This will help ensure that they are durable, accessible and contain the latest anti-counterfeiting technology.
Victoria Cleland, chief cashier at the Bank of England, said: “I hope the public will enjoy the consultations we held to select the animals to feature in our next series of banknotes.
“The shortlisted animals demonstrate the rich diversity of wildlife we should celebrate in the UK.”
The next series will continue to feature the monarch’s portrait, so people will still see a human face when taking out banknotes from their wallets, even if animals are included in the designs.
The bank said representation of their home country will also be an important feature in the design.
Historical figures who helped shape thought, innovation, leadership and values have been featured on Bank of England banknotes since 1970.
The first of the current series has been in circulation since 2016, when £5 notes featuring Sir Winston Churchill were issued.
The current series of banknotes in circulation also features Jane Austen on the £10 note, JMW Turner on the £20 note and Alan Turing on the £50 note.
The rise in payment technologies such as contactless and mobile wallets has offered people an increasing number of alternatives to notes and coins.
Cash remains the preferred payment method for around one in seven people and is being used by many more people, the bank said.
It was stated that the amount of cash in circulation continued to increase and reached 91.5 billion pounds by the end of February 2026.
mammals
- bottlenose dolphin
- brown rabbit
- european hedgehog
- gray seal
- pine marten
- red fox
birds
- atlantic puffin
- barn owl
- common kingfisher
- Eurasian sandpiper
- Great spotted woodpecker
- white tailed eagle
