Millions of ‘Churchill’ £5 notes could disappear – but are they still valid?

Millions of £5 notes featuring Winston Churchill are still in circulation across the UK – but recent news that the Bank of England is changing its banknote designs has left many people wondering whether their fivers are about to become useless.

Reports that Winston Churchill is being removed from UK banknotes have sparked confusion for shoppers and savers alike. But if you have a Churchill £5 note in your purse, wallet or cash tin, there is no need to panic. The current polymer £5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill is still a current Bank of England banknote, which means it remains valid and can still be used as normal. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}The confusion comes after the Bank of England confirmed on 11 March 2026 that wildlife will feature on the next series of banknotes, replacing the current historical figures theme. That means Churchill will not appear on the next £5 design, but it does not mean existing Churchill notes are suddenly being withdrawn. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Are Winston Churchill £5 notes being discontinued?

Not yet. The Bank of England has announced the theme for the next series of notes, but it has not announced a withdrawal date for the current Churchill £5 note. The Bank says the current £5 note still features Sir Winston Churchill, and it remains part of the notes currently in circulation. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

In other words, Churchill is being phased out of future designs, not removed from tills overnight. That is a key difference, and one many people have understandably missed. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Is the Churchill £5 note still legal tender?

Yes. The current polymer £5 note featuring Winston Churchill is still a current Bank of England note, so it remains valid. The Bank of England’s current banknotes page still lists the Churchill £5 as the active £5 note in circulation. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

In plain English: You do not need to rush out and spend your Churchill fivers. They are still valid now. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Will Churchill £5 notes go out of circulation?

Eventually, yes, but not yet. When the Bank of England introduces a new note design, the outgoing version is usually allowed to circulate for a period before it is formally withdrawn. That happened when the old paper £5 note was replaced by the polymer Churchill fiver: the new note was issued on 13 September 2016, and the old paper £5 remained spendable until May 2017. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

That historical pattern suggests Churchill fivers will likely remain in everyday use for some time even after a replacement is introduced, although the Bank has not yet given dates for the next £5 note launch or for any withdrawal of the current one. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Why is Winston Churchill being removed from the £5 note?

The change is part of a wider redesign of Bank of England notes. After a public consultation, the Bank said the UK’s wildlife will feature on the next series of banknotes. It also said there will be a second consultation in summer 2026 to gather views on the specific wildlife the public would like to see, with possible supporting elements including plants and landscapes. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

So Churchill is not being singled out. The whole historical-figures approach is being replaced across the next series. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

When did the Winston Churchill £5 note first come out?

The current polymer £5 note featuring Sir Winston Churchill was first issued on 13 September 2016. It was the Bank of England’s first polymer banknote. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

What happens when a UK banknote is withdrawn?

Even when a Bank of England note is eventually withdrawn from legal tender, that does not mean it becomes worthless. The Bank of England says withdrawn notes can still be exchanged, and older Bank of England notes remain payable at face value indefinitely at the Bank. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

That means that even once Churchill £5 notes do eventually leave circulation, holders should still have a route to exchange them. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Key point: “Going out of circulation” is not the same as “becoming worthless”. Bank of England withdrawn notes can still be exchanged after legal tender status ends. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Should you keep a Churchill £5 note?

For most people, a standard Churchill fiver is still simply worth £5. But some collectors do look out for unusual serial numbers, first-run notes or particularly pristine examples. That is a separate collector market rather than a general rule, so most ordinary notes are best thought of as spendable cash rather than hidden treasure. This final point is an inference based on normal collector behaviour rather than a Bank of England policy statement. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Bottom line

No, the Winston Churchill £5 note is not being discontinued right now. The Bank of England has announced that wildlife will appear on the next series of banknotes, but the Churchill £5 remains a current note and is still valid to use. A future withdrawal is likely at some point after a replacement arrives, but no withdrawal date has been announced yet. And even when that day does come, withdrawn Bank of England notes can still be exchanged. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}