You need a permit

In London, you need a licence from the Port of London Authority for mudlarking. The PLA and the Crown Estate are the largest land owners of the Thames foreshore and jointly administer the permit system. The PLA issues two types of permits - a Standard Permit, which allows day visitors to dig to a shallow depth of 7.5 cm and, to members of the Society of Thames Mudlarks only, a Digging Permit which allows digging to a maximum depth of 1.3 meters. Anyone can make an application for a Standard permit, which costs £42 per day. The Port of London Authority issued about 1500 of these permits last year.

There is a waiting list to join the Society of Thames Mudlarks and membership is controlled.

Where to go

The northern, older bank of the river provides the best findings. As a day visitor, the wisest course is to go with a guide familiar with the tide. You might find medieval roof tiles charred by the Great Fire of 1666, or shards of Roman pottery. You’ll definitely find remnants of clay pipes – forerunners of cigarettes - in abundance.

You may also find chunks of Tudor beer tankards, ancient bottles, smashed Delftware crockery, buttons, keys, cutlery, pilgrim badges, medieval toys, and the occasional leather shoe. You are likely to find 2,500 years of history dispersed along the same shoreline.

Your findings don’t have to be reported unless you find something valuable. Then it must be reported as treasure under the Treasure Act 1996, or submitted for analysis and review via the Portable Antiquities Scheme.