Location Guide • East Midlands
Metal Detecting in Leicestershire
The Fosse Way Roman road bisects the county, creating a reliable corridor for Roman finds. The Soar and Wreake valleys, plus Charnwood Forest fringe, add further detecting potential.
Top Site Type
Fosse Way arable corridor
Best Detector Type
Multi-frequency
Region
East Midlands
Recorded finds · Portable Antiquities Scheme
Metal Detecting Finds Recorded in Leicestershire
22,193 archaeological objects have been officially recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Leicestershire.
Leicestershire Finds by Historical Period
Most Commonly Found Objects in Leicestershire
Coin 11,180Brooch 1,985Mount 605Buckle 590Weight 489Vessel 484Spindle Whorl 481Token 285
Roman and Medieval material leads Leicestershire's recorded finds, with coin the most common object type.
Recent Leicestershire Metal Detecting Finds
Data and images from the Portable Antiquities Scheme (finds.org.uk), © The Trustees of the British Museum, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Figures reflect objects voluntarily recorded by finders and do not represent all finds made in the county. Last updated July 2026.
Leicestershire Metal Detecting Clubs
PAS Analysis
Of the 22,193 objects recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Leicestershire, the Roman period is the strongest (8,447 finds), followed by Medieval, Post Medieval. The most commonly recorded objects are coin, brooch and mount, with coin alone accounting for 11,180 records.
Geology, Site Types & Detecting Tips in Leicestershire
Geology
Triassic mudstones and Liassic clays dominate – productive but heavy. Charnwood Forest granite is ancient and acidic. River terrace gravels along the Soar and Wreake give better conditions.
Site Types to Target
Soar and Wreake river valley farmland, fields along Fosse Way, eastern Leicestershire arable farmland, Rutland border area
What You Can Find
Roman coins and bronzes along Fosse Way, Iron Age Corieltauvi tribe coins, medieval dress accessories, Bronze Age material in the Soar valley
Notable Discoveries
The Hallaton Treasure (Iron Age: 5,000+ coins, a gold coin, and silver bowl) was found just over the border in Leicestershire – one of the most significant Iron Age finds in Britain.
Detecting Tips
The east of the county near the Rutland border is the most productive area. Fosse Way fields are well-picked over near market towns – try fields further from obvious centres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I go metal detecting in Leicestershire?
You can detect on private land in Leicestershire with the landowner’s permission. You must avoid scheduled monuments, SSSIs and other protected sites. Joining a local club is the easiest way to reach permissioned land.
Is metal detecting legal in Leicestershire?
Yes. Metal detecting is legal in Leicestershire 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.
Who is the Finds Liaison Officer for Leicestershire?
Leicestershire 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.
What finds turn up in Leicestershire?
Leicestershire has 22,193 objects recorded with the PAS, with the Roman period the most common. The most commonly recorded objects are coin, brooch and mount, with coin alone accounting for 11,180 records.
Sources & Last Checked
PAS data from finds.org.uk, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Last checked July 2026.
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Detecting in Leicestershire?
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