Bank of England launches consultation on themes for the next series of banknotes

The Bank of England has launched a public consultation seeking views on what overarching theme should be reflected in the design of the next series of its banknotes, with the monarch’s portrait remaining a fixed feature regardless of the theme selected. The Bank has identified six potential themes for public input: notable historical figures, architecture and landmarks, arts, culture and sport, noteworthy events in history, innovation, and nature, while also inviting suggestions for other themes. It noted that designing, testing and printing banknotes is a detailed multi-year process and, depending on the chosen theme, further public feedback may be sought on the specific images to be used. For any theme involving people, living individuals would not be depicted other than the monarch. The consultation closes at 11.59pm on 31 July 2025, with responses sought in particular from UK residents and British citizens living abroad, and submissions accepted online or by post. The Bank said it will provide updates and announce final designs in due course.