A modern polymer £20 note (Bank of England) is 139mm long and 73mm wide, making it smaller than the old paper notes, following the tiered sizing where higher denominations are larger.
As with the £5 and £10 notes made of polymer the £20 will also drop down in size. The current £20 is 14.9cm by 8cm, and the Turner note will be 13.9cm by 7.3cm.
The polymer £10 note will be 132mm x 69mm (the current paper note is 142mm x 75mm). The polymer £20 note will be 139mm x 73mm (the current paper note is 149mm x 80mm). The existing format of tiered sizing will be maintained, i.e. the higher the denomination, the longer the height and the length of note. 5.
The Bank Of England has announced that the paper £20 note will no longer be legal tender after 30 September 2022 - and that paper £50 notes will also go out of circulation on this date too. The new polymer £20 notes came into circulation on 20 February 2020.
How to check £20 banknotes – key security features
What is the size of the new 20 note?
The note has other designs, geometric patterns aligning with the overall colour scheme, both at the observe and reverse. The size of the new note is 63mm x 129mm.
Are paper notes still legal tender in the UK? Paper notes are no longer accepted as payment. £5 and £10 paper banknotes ceased to be legal tender in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Paper £20 and £50 denominations have not been usable since 2022.
As a general rule, we will only reimburse you with the face value of a damaged banknote if you still have at least half of the banknote. To apply for a reimbursement, fill out our damaged banknote application form and send it to us with all of the remains of the banknote.
Yes, the UK definitely has £50 notes, issued by the Bank of England, with the current polymer version featuring the portrait of King Charles III and computer scientist Alan Turing on the reverse, celebrating his code-breaking work and contributions to computing. These notes are part of the standard circulation alongside the £5, £10, and £20 notes.
Features on the new £20 note include: A large see-through window with a blue and gold foil on the front depicting Margate lighthouse and Turner Contemporary. The foil is silver on the back. The shape of the large window is based on the shape of the fountains in Trafalgar Square.
Yes, there are £100 notes in the UK, but they are issued by Scottish banks (like Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale Bank) and some Northern Irish banks, not the Bank of England, which stopped issuing them in 1945. These notes circulate alongside Bank of England notes and are legal tender, though they are less common in England.
JMW Turner is on the £20 note to celebrate him as a transformative and influential British artist, chosen through a public nomination process for his artistic genius, particularly his innovative use of light and colour, and his profound legacy that continues to inspire, honoring Britain's rich cultural heritage. The note features his self-portrait, his famous painting The Fighting Temeraire, his signature, and a quote about light and colour, recognizing his immense contribution to the visual arts.
The printed lines and colours on the £20 note are sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges. Using a magnifying glass, look closely at the lettering beneath the Queen's portrait on the £20 note – you will see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers.
Yes, you can still exchange old paper £20 notes in 2025 and beyond, as the Bank of England guarantees their face value forever, with options to deposit them at your bank, exchange them at Post Office branches, or send them to the Bank of England directly. While no longer legal tender since October 2022, you can swap them for new polymer notes at no cost, though you might need ID and face limits at the Post Office.
What size is a note? A note can have three different standard bond paper sizes, which are the statement (5.5 by 8.5 inches), the letter wide (11 by 8.5 inches), and A4 (8.27 by 11.69 inches). How long does a credit note last?
Who is the lady on the Royal bank of Scotland 20 note?
It features a portrait of the Glasgow tearoom entrepreneur Catherine 'Kate' Cranston (1849-1934) on one side and an illustration of red squirrels on the other.
No, there is no deadline to exchange old Bank of England banknotes; they retain their face value forever and can always be exchanged at the Bank of England or through UK banks/Post Office, though Post Offices have limits (e.g., £300) and specific processes for older notes, while modern polymer notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II are still legal tender.
The Bank of England issued British Pound banknotes in 4 different denominations, including this 200 British Pounds banknote (white note). They are part of the withdrawn Bank of England white notes series. The Bank of England started issuing these British Pound banknotes in 1725.
Can I exchange current or old series banknotes for King Charles III banknotes? Banknotes featuring the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, will remain legal tender, and can continue to be used.
HMRC knows about your savings mainly because banks and financial institutions automatically report interest earned to them annually, especially if it exceeds your Personal Savings Allowance (PSA); they use this data to adjust tax codes or issue bills, and can also use Financial Institution Notices (FINs) to request data directly, plus international agreements share data on overseas accounts, all under systems like CRS.
Both saving and debt repayment are critical for long-term financial health. An emergency fund should be established before aggressively paying off debt to protect against unexpected expenses. High-interest debt, such as credit cards or payday loans, often warrants faster repayment to save on interest.
