“Where can I go?” is the first question almost every new detectorist asks. The short answer is that in the UK you can detect almost anywhere with the landowner’s permission, and almost nowhere without it. Here’s how that works for each type of land.
Quick guide
| Where | Can you detect? |
|---|---|
| Private farmland | Yes, with the landowner's permission |
| Crown Estate foreshore | Yes, without a permit, subject to its terms |
| Other beaches | Depends on the owner, usually the council. Check first |
| Council parks and playing fields | Often banned by byelaws or needs a permit. Ask the council |
| National Trust land and beaches | No, except approved archaeological projects |
| Forestry England land | Only with express permission |
| Rivers and the Thames foreshore | Riverbed owner's permission. Thames needs a PLA permit |
| Scheduled monuments | No. It's a criminal offence without consent |
| Your own garden | Yes, if you own it (tenants should ask the landlord) |
Farmland
Ploughed and grazed farmland is where most of the UK’s historic finds come from, because centuries of activity have left coins, buckles and other objects in the topsoil. You’ll need the farmer’s or landowner’s permission, and a written agreement about finds is strongly recommended. See our guide to getting permission for how to ask. Getting permission to a farm is only half of it: narrowing hundreds of acres down to the fields worth walking is a research job, and our guide to researching sites with old maps covers how to do it.
Beaches
The Crown Estate manages around half the foreshore (the land between mean high and low water) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and lets people detect on it without a formal permit, subject to its terms and the Treasure Act. That covers the foreshore only, not the dry beach above high water or the seabed.
The rest of the coast belongs to councils, private owners and organisations like the National Trust, each with its own rules. Some councils allow detecting on their beaches, some need a permit, and some ban it. National Trust beaches are off limits. Our beach detecting guide covers kit and tips.
For the rules on each type of beach, and what to do with beach finds, see our guide can you metal detect on UK beaches.
Parks and council land
Public parks are not free for all. Many councils ban detecting in parks and open spaces through local byelaws, and others require you to apply for a permit, usually with conditions about where and how you dig. Always check with the council, and get any permission in writing.
Woodland and national parks
Forestry England land needs express permission. National park authorities publish their own guidance, and some areas, such as the New Forest Crown lands, don’t allow detecting without permission. Ask the landowner or the park authority.
Rivers and the Thames
Riverbeds and banks belong to someone, often the adjoining landowner, so you need their permission. The Thames foreshore in London is a special case: searching it, including mudlarking, needs a permit from the Port of London Authority.
Places you can never detect
- Scheduled monuments. Using a metal detector on a scheduled monument, or removing objects found with one, is a criminal offence without consent from Historic England, Cadw or Historic Environment Scotland. That applies even if the landowner is happy for you to be there.
- Sites under archaeological investigation, unless the archaeologists agree.
- In Northern Ireland, you need a licence to search for archaeological objects if it involves disturbing the ground. See our guide to the law.
Ready to start? Our top beginner picks
Once you've found somewhere to detect, you need a detector that suits it. Our overall pick for UK beginners is the Minelab Vanquish 340 (about £199), a multi-frequency detector that sets itself up. The Minelab X-Terra Voyager (about £150) is the budget choice and comes with headphones. Add a Garrett Pro-Pointer AT pinpointer to dig smaller, neater holes. The full reasoning is in our beginner detector guide. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Can I metal detect on public footpaths? A public right of way gives you the right to pass along it, not to detect or dig on it. You’d need the landowner’s permission.
Can I detect in my own garden? Yes, if you own it. It’s a good place to practise. Treasure rules still apply to anything significant you find. See our guide to detecting in your garden.
Can I detect on common land? Common land still has an owner, and rights of access don’t include detecting. You’d need the owner’s permission.
Related guides
- How to Get Permission to Metal Detect on Private Land
- Metal Detecting Laws in the UK
- The Best Beach Metal Detectors in the UK
- Metal Detecting Clubs and Rallies in the UK
- The Best Metal Detectors for Kids in the UK
- Metal Detecting in Your Own Garden: A UK Guide
- How to Research Metal Detecting Sites with Old Maps
- Metal Detecting in Wales: The Law, Cadw and Where You Can Detect
- Metal Detecting in Scotland: The Law and Treasure Trove Explained
- Metal detecting in Northern Ireland