THE first British plastic bank note will be unveiled to visitors at the National Railway Museum in York next week.

The £5 note, which is printed on a thin polymer film, is a move away from paper notes that have been used by Britons for more than 300 years.

Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney said the notes would go into circulation in September and offered the "most advanced security features yet".

He said the new £5 note felt different to paper notes and was 15 per cent smaller than the current fiver.

The all-day visit to the museum on Thursday is part of a nationwide tour, that has already included a day at Gatehead Metrocentre, to help familiarise people with the note.

“We therefore want to make sure that all banknote users become familiar with the note ahead of it entering circulation in September this year,” she said.