This what the new £20 note will look like (Photo: Bank of England)

Joining the likes of the plastic £5 and £10 notes is the £20 note, which is officially entering circulation.

This is everything that you need to know about the new £20 note - including when your paper notes will no longer be accepted.

When will it be released?

Sign up to our daily newsletter The i newsletter cut through the noise Sign up Thanks for signing up! Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting...

The note is due to be released today, 20 February 2020.

The UK is joining the list of 30 other countries who already use plastic banknotes, including the likes of Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.

The polymer notes are thought to have a lifespan of double its paper counterpart, and as well as being less likely to tear, they only begin melting at 120C and have also been designed not to be damaged by dirt or moisture.

The plastic notes are also believed to be safer than paper ones.

Security features

Talking to Which?, Sarah John, chief cashier of the Bank of England, said that the new £20 note will be “the most secure banknote yet”.

“The evidence is that counterfeiters find it much more difficult to produce counterfeits on polymer,” she explained.

The note comes with security features including:

A hologram which switches between the words “twenty” and “pounds” as the note is titledA silver foil patch which contains a 3D image of the coronation crownA purple foil patch which contains the letter ‘T’Raised print - this also helps blind and partially sighted people to identify the noteUltraviolet number which shows the number 20 under a good quality ultraviolet light

Phasing out old notes?

Much like the introduction of the plastic £5 and £10 notes, bringing the new £20 note into circulation will be a phased process.

You’ll still be able to use the old paper £20 note until it’s withdrawn - you’ll be given six months’ notice of this date.

You’ll always be able to exchange your paper notes for a new plastic note at a bank.

Who is on it?

Featured on the new note is a self portrait of Joseph Mallord William Turner, a 18th and 19th century British artist well known for his landscape and marine paintings. The self portrait was painted circa 1799 and is currently on display at Tate Britain.

Next to his portrait will be an image of the HMS Temeraire, a ship from one of Turner’s most famous works. The ship played an important role in Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

His signature will also be featured. According to the Bank of England, the signature on the note is taken from his will, “in which he left many of his paintings to the nation”.

Underneath Turner’s signature is the quote, “Light is therefore colour.” This quote is from a lecture Turner gave in 1818 and is in reference to his use of light, shade, colour and tone in his work.