Crown Estate, council, parish, National Trust, nature site - one beach can have four different answers. We looked up the detecting rules of most coastal councils in England, plus key parishes and estates, quoted the official wording wherever it exists, and mapped the protected nature sites where digging can need consent. Not every landowner is on here yet.
Much of the foreshore - the strip between high and low tide - belongs to the Crown Estate, which gives a general permission to detect there under its terms: surface searching only (no digging into the hard sand beneath), fill every hole, and report items of value to the Crown Estate and the police within 14 days - the Crown Estate keeps a claim on them. But councils, parishes, harbour authorities and private estates own or lease plenty of beaches, and above the high-water line it's often someone else entirely. Their rules apply on their land.
Digging on a Site of Special Scientific Interest can need consent from Natural England. The hatched areas on the map are SSSIs that touch the coast. A beach being "allowed" by the council doesn't override this.
The National Trust doesn't allow detecting on its land, beaches included, unless it's part of an approved archaeology project - with local exceptions such as Studland's permit scheme.
Using a metal detector on a scheduled monument without consent is a criminal offence. Some forts and harbour remains on the coast are scheduled, and some wreck sites are legally protected.
Possible Treasure must be reported to the coroner within 14 days. Your local Finds Liaison Officer (Portable Antiquities Scheme) can help with everything else. Anything that came from a ship must be reported to the Receiver of Wreck. If you uncover anything that looks like ordnance, leave it, move away and call 999 for the Coastguard.
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