People are being asked to suggest how the newest series of banknotes should look in a Bank of England consultation launched on Wednesday.
Bank of England notes have showcased notable historical figures since 1970, when William Shakespeare became the first person other than the monarch to feature.
But for the newest series, the Bank said there are many ways to represent the UK on banknotes, and six potential themes have been identified.
They are:
- Notable historical figures
- Architecture and landmarks
- Arts, culture and sport
- Noteworthy events in history
- Innovation
- Nature
The public can also suggest other potential ideas for the new notes.
Banknotes take a multi-year process to design, test and print, to ensure they are high-quality, resilient and accessible, the Bank of England said.
Depending on which theme is selected, the Bank said it may seek further feedback from the public on the specific images that could be used to show the chosen theme.
It said it will give updates, announcing the final note designs in due course.
Examples of how themes could be depicted include portraits of people from history who have made an important contribution to UK society and culture, for the notable historical figures theme.
The Bank will not represent living people on its banknotes, with the exception of the monarch.
Responses can be submitted on an online form on the Bank’s website, or by post. The consultation will close at 11.59pm on July 31.
The next series of banknotes will feature a portrait of the monarch, regardless of the selected theme or themes, the Bank said.
The figures currently celebrated on banknotes are Sir Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing.
The Bank started issuing banknotes featuring the portrait of King Charles in June 2024, with no other changes to existing designs.
More than 4.7 billion Bank of England notes are in circulation, collectively worth around £86 billion.
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