MARKET NEWS
The new £20 note - BANK OF ENGLAND
We first issued our polymer £20 note on 20 February 2020. It features the artist JMW Turner.
Key facts
Our new polymer £20 note entered circulation on 20 February 2020
Don’t worry, you can still use the paper £20 note for now
We’ll give you 6 months’ notice of the date you’ll no longer be able to use the paper £20
Explore our polymer £20 note
Drag the note or use the slider to find out about the features on the note
Hologram
The word changes between ‘Twenty’ and ‘Pounds’ when the note is tilted.
Key security features
Focus on these two key security features to help confirm that your notes are genuine:
Hologram image change
Tilt the note from side to side. Check the words change between 'Twenty' and 'Pounds'.
See-through windows
Look at the metallic image over the main window. Check the foil is blue and gold on the front of the note and silver on the back.
Look for a second, smaller window in the bottom corner of the note.
Other security features
The Queen's portrait in the see-through window
A portrait of the Queen is printed on the window with '£20 Bank of England’ printed twice around the edge.
Silver foil patch
A silver foil patch contains a 3D image of the coronation crown. You will find this above the see-through window on the front of the note.
Purple foil patch
A round, purple foil patch contains the letter 'T'. You will find this on the back of the note, directly behind the silver crown on the front of the note.
Feel of polymer and raised print
The note is printed on polymer, which is a thin and flexible plastic material. On the front of the note, you can feel raised print. For example, on the words ‘Bank of England’ and in the bottom right corner, over the smaller window.
Print quality
The printed lines and colours on the note are sharp, clear and free from smudges or blurred edges. If you use a magnifying glass, you will see the value of the note written in small letters and numbers below the Queen's portrait.
Ultra violet number
Under a good quality ultra-violet light, the number '20' appears in bright red and green on the front of the note, against a duller background.
Design features
Tactile feature
On the front of the note (the side with raised print), there are three clusters of raised dots in the top left hand corner. This tactile feature helps blind and partially sighted people identify the value of the note.
Size
The higher the value of a note, the larger it is. This note is approximately 139mm x 73mm.
Unique numbering
A unique serial number is printed horizontally and vertically on the back of the note. The horizontal number is in the bottom right corner. It is made up of multi-coloured letters and numbers, which increase in height from left to right. The vertical number runs down the left-hand side and the numbers and letters are the same height and colour.
Copyright symbols
The international copyright symbol is on the front and back of the note, below the ‘Twenty Pounds’ text.
Historical character
JMW Turner’s self-portrait was painted circa 1799 and is currently on display at Tate Britain.
Artwork
The Fighting Temeraire is one of Turner’s most famous paintings. This was a tribute to the ship HMS Temeraire, which played a distinguished role in Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Quote
'Light is therefore colour’ is a quote from a lecture Turner gave in 1818 and a reference to his innovative use of light, shade, colour and tone.
Signature
Turner’s signature is from his Will, in which he left many of his paintings to the nation.
Resources
Download our free education materials to help check your banknotes.
- The new £20 note A4 poster (PDF)
- The new £20 note A4 poster (Welsh) (PDF)
- The new £20 note A5 leaflet (PDF)
- The new £20 note A5 leaflet (Welsh) (PDF)
- Take a closer look A5 booklet (PDF)
- Take a closer look A5 booklet (Welsh) (PDF)
- Take a closer look A3 poster (PDF)
You can also order our free education materials online:
Watch the new £20 note unveil film
Watch our key security features film
Bring the new £20 to life with Snapchat
All you need is a new £20 and a phone.
- Open the Snapchat app and point the camera at the Snapcode, or click the image above
- Press and hold on the Snapcode to unlock the AR Lens
- Once unlocked, hover over the note or an image of the new £20
- Watch as it transforms the note into a live piece of artwork
- Take a snap and share it
Exchanging old notes
You will still be able to use the paper £20 note until we withdraw it from circulation. We will announce the withdrawal date after we have issued our new polymer £20 note. We will give six months’ notice of this withdrawal date.
Many banks will accept withdrawn notes as deposits from customers. The Post Office may also accept withdrawn notes as a deposit into any bank account you can access at the Post Office. And, you can always exchange withdrawn notes with us.
Paper £20 note
Find out more about the current £20 note
Current notes
£5
Issued on 13 September 2016 and features Sir Winston Churchill.
£10
Issued on 14 September 2017 and features Jane Austen.
Paper £20
Issued on 13 March 2007 and features Adam Smith.
Paper £50
Issued on 2 November 2011 and features Matthew Boulton and James Watt.