The banknotes are all different sizes (Image: Getty)
Most Brits will be familiar with the UK’s four different banknotes, even in an increasingly cashless society. Yet many have been surprised to find out one detail about the notes shared by a Reddit user recently.
Banknotes in the UK have undergone some changes recently, most notably the shift from portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II to the current monarch, Charles III. But one keen Reddit user has noticed the height of each banknote is around half the width of the next largest note. So the width of two £20 notes, for example, measures exactly the same as the length of a £50 note. The pattern is slightly off as the denominations decline in size, with the width of two £10 notes measuring 1mm short of the length of a £20 note, and two £5 notes having a combined width 2mm short of a £10 note’s length. Other Reddit users sent quips in response to the “experiment”, with one saying: “Look at money bags here.”
Another said: “Now that the research has concluded, can you send me the research equipment please.”
Notes featuring the King’s portrait were first issued in June last year by the Bank of England, while the various different denominations have been updated in the last decade to change the faces displayed and move to a more durable plastic note.
For instance, the £5 in its current form was first issued in September 2016 and features wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill.
It also has a hologram, which changes from reading “Five” to “Pounds” when the note is tilted, while its border shifts from purple to green when the note is moved.
The £5 note also features the Churchill quote from his first prime ministerial speech: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.”
Featuring author Jane Austen, the current £10 note was issued in 2017, featuring her quote: “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!”
Artist JMW Turner, who gives his name to the art prize and the “Turner View” from Richmond Hill, is featured on the £20, issued first in 2020.
His “The Fighting Temeraire” is featured on the note, one of his most famous paintings done as a tribute to the HMS Temeraire, which played a distinguished role in Admiral Lord Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
Scientist Alan Turing completes the set with his feature on the £50 note, first issued in 2021.
Turing provided the theoretical underpinnings for the modern computer and is best known for his work devising code-breaking machines during the Second World War.
He was convicted of gross indecency for his relationship with a man but was posthumously pardoned by Queen Elizabeth II.
All notes feature a “cluster” of raised dots in the top left hand corner to aid blind and partially sighted people identify the value of the note, though the size of notes can also help to distinguish between them.
Major UK theme park reduces ticket prices for May and June
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort is one of the UK’s best theme parks (Image: Getty Images )
A popular UK theme park will be offering cheaper tickets in May and June for a wholesome reason. Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool has said that it is set on honouring its founder’s mission statement, which was set 129 years ago by the current CEO’s great-grandfather, and promises to “make adults feel like children again”. To honour the rich family history, the park is launching a new campaign as it heads into its peak season, which is aimed at evoking nostalgia through the mission statement.
The seaside resort has announced that throughout May and June, adults will be able to buy tickets for the same price as a junior – meaning that if booked in advance adults could grab themselves a full park ticket for as little as £30.00. CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE, said: “In 1896, my great-grandfather William George Bean started his amusement empire which we all know and love today as Pleasure Beach Resort.
Blackpool is home to an exciting array of attractions for tourists (Image: Getty Images )
“He was very clear that in creating our amusement park he wanted to make adults feel like children again.
“To continue that mission, we’re launching this new campaign, and I hope it will bring the same joy to families in 2025 as it has been doing for centuries.”
An adult ticket at the park without the offer is priced at £50 on the day or £35 if booking online meaning visitors could make a significant saving.
William George Bean founded Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach, and was inspired by the amusement parks he visited in America.
He first purchased a motorcycle monorail which was positioned on the sandy south beach of Blackpool.
As the seaside town became a popular tourist destination, Bean continued to buy and build rides, his most notable being built in 1904, Sir Hiram Maxim’s Captive Flying Machines which are still being ridden in the park today.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort is a popular place for Brits to visit from all across the country (Image: Getty Images )
Speaking over one hundred years ago, he said: “We wanted to found an American Style Amusement Park, the fundamental principle of which is to make adults feel like children again and to inspire gaiety of a primarily innocent character.”
Pleasure Beach operates a dynamic pricing structure, meaning that the earlier you book, the cheaper the price of an eTicket will be.
From today until the end of June, when guests book online, all ticket prices will show as the value of a junior.
On May 24, the park is hosting a late-night event in the form of Twilight Thrills. This means guests can enjoy 11 hours of riding as well as live entertainment for the price of a child’s ticket – which is currently priced at £34.00.
Throughout June, Pleasure Beach’s Nickelodeon Land is home to PAW Patrol Month, where guests can enjoy special character meet and greet with the pups, and themed games and activities.
Amanda added: “Life is more magical when we allow ourselves to embrace our inner child. At Pleasure Beach, we’re committed to crafting moments that remind grown-ups what it’s like to see the world through a child’s eyes.”
