One of England’s finest detecting counties. The gateway to Roman Britain, with Richborough (Rutupiae) as the main landing point. Chalk North Downs, Romney Marsh and Thames estuary all productive.
FROM THE PORTABLE ANTIQUITIES SCHEME
Selected archaeological finds from the PAS records for Kent.
EARLY MEDIEVALA pendant made from a Gallic Provençal quasi-Imperial gold solidus in the name of Maurice Tiberius (582-602).
Explore this findPhoto: Kent County Council · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
EARLY MEDIEVALAn incomplete early medieval Anglo-Scandinavian copper alloy stirrup-strap mount, dating to circa AD 1000-1100.
Explore this findPhoto: The Portable Antiquities Scheme · CC-BY
Licence label and image metadata on the linked PAS record.
Kent has a coastline, and beach detecting follows different rules to farmland. Most foreshore between the high and low water marks in England is Crown Estate land, and the Crown Estate operates a general permission for recreational detecting on much of its managed foreshore, though you should check the current terms. Council-owned beaches often need the local authority’s permission, and some beaches are privately owned or leased. Always check for scheduled monuments, SSSIs and local byelaws before detecting, and never detect where it is signposted as prohibited.
Chalk North Downs – superb preservation. Weald clay in the centre – productive but heavy. Thames estuary gravels and coastal alluvium. Romney Marsh silt and peat.
North Downs chalk arable fields, river valleys (Medway, Stour, Darent), Thames estuary farmland, fields adjacent to Watling Street and other Roman roads
Roman coins and military material (especially near Richborough and Canterbury), Iron Age material, Bronze Age hoards on the Downs, Viking-age material in the Thames corridor, medieval
The Ringlemere Gold Cup (Bronze Age) was found in Kent. Significant Roman coin hoards from Watling Street corridor. Multiple Viking-age hoards from the Thames estuary area.
One of the best counties in England. Take time to research sites using LiDAR and historic maps before approaching landowners – it shows seriousness and improves success rates.
You can detect on private land in Kent with the landowner’s permission, and on much of the Crown Estate foreshore if you are on the coast. You must avoid scheduled monuments, SSSIs and other protected sites. Joining a local club is the easiest way to reach permissioned land.
Yes. Metal detecting is legal in Kent on land where you have the landowner’s permission, as long as you avoid protected sites and follow the law on reporting treasure and recording finds.
Kent is covered by a Portable Antiquities Scheme Finds Liaison Officer who records finds made by the public. See the FLO section on this page for contact details, or search finds.org.uk.
PAS lists 35,839 database records representing 52,125 recorded objects for Kent, checked 2 November 2026. These are recorded entries rather than a count of every find made. The period and object-type categories shown in the PAS section are selected, incomplete lists.
There is no single permission that should be assumed across Kent. Contact the council or landowner responsible for your particular park or beach.
PAS data from finds.org.uk. Last checked 2 November 2026.
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