All Posts

The Minelab Manticore is a high-performance multi-frequency detector built for serious UK detectorists. From deep pasture coins to wet salty beaches, its advanced Target Trace, powerful audio, and rugged build deliver class-leading finds capability. Read our full review on DiggingHistory.co.uk.

The XP Dēus II is a groundbreaking all-terrain metal detector combining lightning-fast recovery, true waterproofing to 20 m, and feather-light wireless design. Perfect for UK fields, beaches, and rivers, it delivers outstanding depth, accuracy, and comfort. Discover why so many detectorists call it the ultimate machine in DiggingHistory.co.uk’s in-depth review.

Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the metal detectorist in your life? From must-have pinpointers and rugged knee pads to clever finds pouches and cleaning kits, this funny yet practical guide rounds up the top 10 gifts every UK detectorist will actually use. Packed with humour, expert tips, and muddy good sense — ideal for detectorists of all levels this festive season.

Discover the top 5 best spades and shovels for metal detecting in the UK — tested for strength, comfort, and dig-ability! From lightweight carbon designs to heavy-duty field tools, this guide from DiggingHistory.co.uk helps you choose the perfect spade for your next treasure hunt. Packed with humour, practical tips, and honest advice, it’s the ultimate read for detectorists who take their digging as seriously as their finds.

Beneath Britain’s fields, shores, and stormy seas, countless treasures still lie hidden — from lost royal riches to forgotten merchant gold. Hidden Treasures Still Waiting to Be Found in the UK explores the real stories behind these mysteries, separating fact from legend. Learn where treasure might still rest, how to search responsibly, and why the greatest discoveries come when curiosity meets care for the past.

Metal detectors don’t simply “find metal” — they detect how objects respond to changing magnetic fields. By generating electromagnetic waves and analysing the resulting eddy currents, detectors can identify coins, jewellery, and relics while filtering out ground minerals and iron. This detailed UK guide explains VLF, PI and SMF technology, coils, ground balance, discrimination, and the legal responsibilities of responsible detectorists.

Metal detecting on UK beaches is one of the most rewarding ways to enjoy the hobby. With miles of coastline, rich maritime history, and millions of modern visitors each year, the sands hide everything from Roman coins to lost wedding rings. This guide explores the laws, permissions, best beaches in Cornwall, Norfolk, and Blackpool, tide timing, equipment tips, and how to detect responsibly while uncovering history.

Discover the UK’s top 5 best-selling metal detectors of 2025 — the Minelab X-Terra Pro, Nokta Legend, XP Deus II, Minelab Manticore, and Garrett ACE Apex. This buyer’s guide compares their features, performance, and value in real British conditions: from iron-laden pasture and ploughed fields to challenging saltwater beaches. Packed with set-up tips, FAQs, and buying advice, it’s your ultimate resource for choosing the right detector.

Metal detecting isn’t just about digging up coins or the odd ring pull — it’s a hobby packed with surprising benefits. From boosting fitness with long countryside walks to improving mental wellbeing through mindful coil-swinging, it’s exercise, relaxation, and adventure rolled into one. Add in new friendships, a deeper connection with history, and the thrill of discovery, and you’ve got Britain’s most underrated pastime.

Metal detecting in the UK isn’t just about beeps and buried treasure — it’s also about the law. From the Viking riches of the Herefordshire Hoard to the first Treasure Act prosecution in Ludlow, detectorists have found themselves in court when passion crossed into illegality. These cases shaped the hobby we know today, proving that the thrill of discovery must always be matched with respect for heritage and the law.

Metal detecting in the UK is caught in an age-old debate: does the latest high-tech gear give you the edge, or is instinct still the true treasure-finder? From sleek multi-frequency machines to seasoned detectorists who can read a field like a book, both have their victories. The best finds often come when tech and gut feeling work together — because your detector finds the metal, but instinct uncovers the history.

The Stuart and Civil War century (1600–1700) left Britain’s fields rich with hidden history. Detectorists uncover hammered shillings, siege money from Newark and Oxford, Civil War hoards, musket balls, tokens, and personal jewellery lost in battle or buried in fear. From Cromwell’s rare coins to merchant trade weights and posy rings, every find tells a story of war, loyalty, and survival in one of Britain’s most turbulent eras.

From the Black Death to Elizabeth I’s reign, the Late Medieval and Tudor period (1300–1600) left treasures still uncovered today. Detectorists find hammered coins, pilgrim badges, seals, gold rings, and hoards buried during wars, plague, and religious upheaval. Each discovery, from a simple token to the grand Fishpool Hoard, brings us closer to understanding life, faith, and power in one of Britain’s most dramatic eras.

The Norman Conquest of 1066 reshaped Britain with castles, cathedrals, markets, and monasteries — and left behind treasures still found today. From silver pennies of William the Conqueror and Edward I to pilgrim badges, harness pendants, brooches, and everyday tools, detectorists continue to uncover the story of Norman and High Medieval life. Each find brings us closer to knights, pilgrims, traders, and kings.

The Viking Age (AD 793–1066) left Britain rich in hidden treasures. From silver hoards and hacksilver to axes, brooches, and Thor’s hammer pendants, detectorists continue to uncover the traces of raiders, traders, and settlers. Famous finds like the Vale of York and Silverdale Hoards, alongside everyday tools and jewellery, reveal how Viking Britain lived, fought, and worshipped, and how much still lies beneath our fields.

Out detecting and think you’ve uncovered an ancient burial? Stop straight away. Don’t touch or dig. Call the police from the spot (999 if bones visible; 101 otherwise) and inform the landowner. Keep the location confidential, take only wide context photos, and protect the area from disturbance. If associated finds may be Treasure, report within 14 days via your FLO. Respect the dead, preserve the evidence, and let professionals take it from there.

Metal detecting in the UK is influenced as much by the weather as by the detector in your hand. Each season brings unique opportunities and challenges, from moist spring soils that boost signal depth, to summer’s hard ground, autumn’s perfect post-harvest fields, and winter storms that expose hidden treasures. Learn how rain, frost, tides, and soil conditions affect finds, and plan your hunts for maximum success.

From cruciform brooches and garnet pendants to silver pennies and warrior hoards, Anglo-Saxon Britain (AD 410–1066) left treasures still waiting in UK soil. Detectorists continue to uncover coins, jewellery, and burial goods that reveal stories of migration, warfare, and faith. From famous finds like the Staffordshire Hoard to lesser-known gems like the Winfarthing pendant, every discovery helps rewrite the history of England before the Normans.

Discover the hidden history of London with *Secrets of the Thames* at the London Museum Docklands. This family-friendly exhibition showcases more than 350 treasures uncovered by mudlarks, from Roman coins to medieval rings and children’s shoes. With hands-on activities, immersive displays, and the Mudlarks gallery for under-8s, it’s the perfect mix of learning and fun for a family day out by the river.

Roman Britain (AD 43–410) left a legacy that still lies beneath our fields — coins, brooches, jewellery, tools, weapons, and spectacular hoards. From the Hoxne Hoard to the Frome discovery, detectorists continue to uncover treasures that reshape our understanding of the empire. This guide explores Roman coinage, villas, military sites, rituals, and famous finds, offering practical tips and legal advice for responsible detecting in the UK.