Can you metal detect in parks? Public land rules in England and Wales

The park is public. The footpath is public. The forest is open to all. So surely you can detect there?

Usually, no. Not without asking. The New Forest National Park Authority puts it simply: you need the landowner’s permission before using a metal detector, and that “includes land to which the public have rights of access such as beaches, footpaths, or council-owned land.”

Public land still has an owner. Most big owners have written down what they think of detectors.

Council parks and open spaces

Councils can make byelaws for parks, pleasure grounds and open spaces, under the Public Health Act 1875 and the Open Spaces Act 1906. The government publishes model byelaws for them to adapt, with guidance. Tower Hamlets’ byelaws for its parks include this one:

“No person shall without the consent of the Council use any device designed or adapted for detecting or locating any metal or mineral in the ground.”

Tower Hamlets’ byelaws set the penalty for breaking any of them at a fine up to level 2 on the standard scale.

Not every council bans detecting everywhere. The government’s own guidance to councils says a ban “may be appropriate” on fine turf and flower beds, archaeological, botanical or scientific sites, and areas much used by blind or disabled people. But it warns that banning detectors where no special protection is needed, or from every ground in an area, “may be seen as overly restrictive and unreasonable”. It suggests partial bans where needed. And it says councils should consult local detecting clubs, or a national body such as the National Council for Metal Detecting, before restricting detectors.

So the answer depends on your council. Two steps:

1. Find the byelaws. Councils usually publish them. Search the council’s site for “pleasure grounds byelaws” and look for a clause on metal detectors.
2. Ask the parks team. If the byelaw says “without consent”, consent is what you ask for. Get the answer in writing, and carry it.

The Royal Parks

London’s Royal Parks have their own regulations. Under regulation 4 of the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997, unless the Secretary of State’s written permission has been obtained first, no one using a park covered by the regulations may:

“use or operate a metal or mineral detector or any device for locating objects below ground level”.

The regulations refer to Hyde Park by name. No written permission, no detecting.

National Trust land

The National Trust’s policy is the clearest in this guide. “We don’t allow metal detecting on National Trust land unless it’s part of a clearly defined archaeological project.” It applies to all Trust land, including beaches, and “even where it’s under the plough”.

The Trust doesn’t grant metal detecting licences. Instead it issues an Archaeological Research Agreement, built around a Research Design you work out with a National Trust archaeologist. That design covers the aims of the work and how finds will be recorded, conserved and archived.

Three more points from the Trust:

• Only a National Trust archaeologist can issue an agreement. Tenants and farmers on Trust land can’t give you permission.
• Detect without one and you’ll be asked to leave, and the Trust says it will take action to reclaim any finds.
• On scheduled monuments you also need the state’s consent. Our scheduled monuments guide explains it.

Forestry England woods

Forestry England publishes the Forestry Commission Byelaws 1982. They cover land managed or controlled by the Forestry Commissioners that the public have, or may be allowed, access to. Byelaw 5 lists what no person shall do there. Item ix is short: “operate a metal detector”. The item before bans disturbing or removing archaeological or historical remains.

The byelaws also say nothing in them makes unlawful anything done with the Commissioners’ written authority. In the New Forest, the National Park Authority tells detectorists to email Forestry England’s southern permissions team for more information.

Open access land

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 gives a right to walk on mapped open access land. Schedule 2 lists conduct that switches that right off. Paragraph 1(k): the right doesn’t entitle you to be on the land if you “use or have with” you “any metal detector”.

Note the wording. Carrying a detector is enough. With one in your bag, you’re relying on the landowner’s permission, not the access right. The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority’s guidance lists access land among the places detecting is restricted.

National parks

A national park isn’t one landowner. The New Forest National Park Authority says it owns no land and can’t grant permission to detect anywhere in the park. Within the New Forest it lists separate rules for Forestry England’s Crown land, National Trust land, several councils, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The Brecon Beacons National Park Authority says permission is unlikely on land it owns unless detecting is part of a supervised, accredited programme of archaeological research.

The lesson carries over to other parks: find out who owns the exact field or slope, then ask them.

Wherever you are: scheduled monuments

A landowner’s yes, or a council’s consent, never covers a scheduled monument. Using a metal detector on one without written consent from Historic England, or Cadw in Wales, is an offence under section 42 of the 1979 Act. Plenty of public land holds them. Check first: see metal detecting on scheduled monuments.

Better ground

On private land, a written agreement with the owner is the place to start. Our permission letter template covers what to put in it. Beaches have their own rules: see metal detecting on UK beaches. Or join an organised dig: see our rallies guide.

Whatever you find, the Treasure rules still apply.

FAQ

Can you metal detect in a public park in the UK?

Only if the owner allows it, and many councils don't without consent. Government model byelaws for pleasure grounds include a clause banning the use of metal detectors without the council's consent, and councils such as Tower Hamlets have adopted it. Ask the council's parks team and get any consent in writing.

Can I metal detect in Hyde Park or other Royal Parks?

Not without written permission. The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997 say no one using a park covered by them may use a metal or mineral detector, or any device for locating objects below ground, unless the Secretary of State's written permission has been obtained first.

Is metal detecting allowed on National Trust land?

Only as part of a clearly defined archaeological project, under an Archaeological Research Agreement issued by a National Trust archaeologist. The Trust says this applies to all its land, including beaches, and that tenants and farmers can't give permission.

Can I metal detect on open access land or footpaths?

Not as of right. Under Schedule 2 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, the right of access to open access land doesn't apply to anyone who uses or has with them a metal detector. The New Forest National Park Authority says you need the landowner's permission even on land the public can access, such as beaches, footpaths or council land.

Can I metal detect in Forestry England woods?

The Forestry Commission Byelaws 1982 say no person shall operate a metal detector on the Commissioners' land, though the byelaws don't make anything unlawful that is done with the Commissioners' written authority. Ask Forestry England's local team before you go.

Sources

Every figure in this guide comes from one of these. We checked each one on 2 November 2026.

1. GOV.UK, “Model byelaw set 2: guidance notes” (pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces). www.gov.uk/government/publications/pleasure-grounds-public-walks-and-open-spaces-model-byelaw-2/model-byelaw-2-guidance-notes
2. London Borough of Tower Hamlets, “Byelaws for pleasure grounds, public walks and open spaces”. www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgnl/leisure_and_culture/parks_and_open_spaces/Byelaws-for-pleasure-grounds-public-walks-and-open-spaces.aspx
3. The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997, regulation 4. www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1997/1639/regulation/4
4. National Trust, “Metal detecting on National Trust land”. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/about-us/metal-detecting-on-national-trust-land
5. The Forestry Commission Byelaws 1982 (SI 1982/648), as published by Forestry England. www.forestryengland.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Forestry%20Commission_Byelaws.pdf
6. Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Schedule 2 (restrictions to be observed by persons exercising right of access). www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/37/schedule/2
7. New Forest National Park Authority, “Metal detecting”. www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/enjoying/visiting-responsibly/metal-detecting/
8. Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog) National Park Authority, metal detecting guidance (PDF). beacons-npa.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/Metal-detecting-BBNPA_ENG.pdf
9. Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, section 42. www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/46/section/42