Bank of England Wants Your Views on New Banknotes Design

The Bank of England has today issued a press release asking you, the public to offer their views on what themes you would like to see represented in the design of the next series of Bank of England banknotes.

• 1960 – It was only in 1960 that the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II’s image was added to the £1 note and in 1961, her image then added to the 10-shilling note (50p in today's money).
• 1970 – Notable historical figures were first added to bank notes with William Shakespeare £20 being the first in 1970, the Duke of Wellington £5 in 1971 with others to follow such as Sir Isaac Newton, Christopher Wren, George Stephenson, Michael Faraday, Charles Dickens, Sir Edward Elgar, Charles Darwin, Adam Smith, Boulton & Watt, Winston Churchill, and J M W Turner.
• 1975 – Florence Nightingale was the first female to be added to UK notes (£10 note) and since then Elizabeth Fry and Jane Austen.
• 2016 – Plastic/polymer notes started to replace paper notes (made from tree bark from trees at a top-secret location, allegedly Mulberry Tree bark given these trees are on B of E notes).

New Theme Suggestions

The Bank of England has identified six potential themes to include by way of example, and you can suggest your own :

• Notable historical figures (we have had this since 1970).
• Architecture and landmarks.
• Arts, culture, and sport.
• Noteworthy events in history.
• Innovation.
• Nature.

You can also suggest other themes for the Bank to consider.   Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s Chief Cashier, said: “Banknotes are more than just an important means of payment – they serve as a symbolic representation of our collective national identity and an opportunity to celebrate the UK. I am really keen to hear what themes the public would like to see represented on the next series of notes.”

Comment

The consultation starts today (2^nd July 2025) and ends at the end of the month on 31 July 2025.

You can share your views here https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/help-us-design-our-next-series-of-banknotes and know that the portrait of the monarch, currently King Charles III will still feature irrespective of the theme.

We hope the theme(s) chosen is traditional and celebrates the United Kingdom as a whole and is not too ‘woke’ in that our history and historical figures are ignored to placate those that are overly ‘politically correct’.  Thousands of years of history cannot be wiped out or outweighed by 30 years of political correctness, diversity, and inclusion.  There should be a balance to represent the whole make up of the UK, past and present.