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45 Must-Watch British TV Series (& where they are set)

Planning your next British binge-watch? Whether you’re into crime thrillers, historical dramas, or quirky comedies, British television has something for everyone — and many of the shows are filmed in stunning UK locations you can actually visit!

From Yorkshire estates to Cornish coastlines and Scottish highlands, this guide not only helps you choose your next series to watch, but gives you travel inspiration with each one. Let’s dive into some of the best British TV series available to stream — plus where they were filmed and how you can explore them.

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Happy viewing!

📺 Where to Watch British TV Shows in the USA

TV Show Streaming Platform (US)
Absolutely FabulousAmazon Prime
Agatha RaisinAmazon Prime
All Creatures Great and SmallAmazon Prime
BridgertonNetflix
BroadchurchAmazon Prime
Call the MidwifeNetflix, Amazon Prime
Case HistoriesAmazon Prime
Doc MartinNetflix, Amazon Prime
Doctor WhoAmazon Prime
Downton AbbeyNetflix, Amazon Prime
Father BrownNetflix, Amazon Prime
FleabagAmazon Prime
Foyle’s WarAmazon Prime
GrantchesterAmazon Prime
Hamish MacbethAmazon Prime
Happy ValleyAmazon Prime
HeartbeatAmazon Prime
HinterlandNetflix, Amazon Prime
Inspector George GentlyAmazon Prime
Inspector Morse & EndeavourAmazon Prime
Killing EveNetflix, Amazon Prime
Last Tango in HalifaxNetflix, Amazon Prime
Line of DutyNetflix, Amazon Prime
MirandaAmazon Prime
Midsomer MurdersAmazon Prime
Monarch of the GlenAmazon Prime
Only Fools and HorsesAmazon Prime
OutlanderAmazon Prime
Peaky BlindersNetflix, Amazon Prime
PoldarkNetflix, Amazon Prime
RebusAmazon Prime
Rosemary and ThymeAmazon Prime
ShetlandAmazon Prime
SherlockNetflix, Amazon Prime
Ted LassoApple TV+
The CrownNetflix
The Diplomat (UK)Netflix
The Great British Bake OffNetflix (US)
The ResponderAmazon Prime (via BritBox)
The Vicar of DibleyAmazon Prime
Trigger PointAmazon Prime (with BritBox or PBS Masterpiece add-on)
Vanity FairNetflix
VeraNetflix, Amazon Prime

Note: Streaming availability may change. Check individual platforms for the latest access in your region.

🏰 British Period Dramas

Downton Abbey

About – One of Britain’s most beloved period dramas, Downton Abbey follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their domestic staff through the shifting social tides of the early 20th century. Themes of love, loss, class, and duty are explored with rich costumes and grand scenery.

Period – Set between 1912 and 1926.

Number of series – 6 series (52 episodes) and 2 films

Filmed – Although set in Yorkshire, the series was filmed at Highclere Castle in Hampshire and the village of Bampton in Oxfordshire.

💻 Click to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

📍 Inspired to visit Yorkshire? Discover the top 10 things to do in this beautiful English county

📷 Click here to book a tour to Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey)

The Church at the village of Bampton in Oxfordshire as see on Downton Abbey

About: A lavish historical drama chronicling the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Each season explores major political and personal moments in British history, brought to life by stellar performances and iconic filming locations.

Period: 1940s–early 2000s

Seasons: 6 (complete)

Filming: London, Ely, Hatfield House, Belvoir Castle

Watch: Netflix

Travel: Book a Crown Filming Locations Tour

Poldark

About – Set against the windswept Cornish coast, this romantic drama tells the story of Ross Poldark, who returns home from the American Revolutionary War to find his world turned upside down. Sweeping landscapes and dramatic twists abound.

Period – Set between 1781 and 1801.

Number of series – 5 series (43 episodes)

Filmed – A variety of locations along the north Cornwall coast (and some locations in England) were used for filming including St Agnes Head, Gunwalloe on the Lizard Peninsula and the Botallack Mine near St Just in Penwith.

Watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Click here for a tour of Poldark’s Cornwall

Abandoned tin mines Penwith Coastline in Cornwall

About: A vibrant reimagining of Regency-era London society, Bridgerton delivers romance, scandal, and opulent fashion as it follows the powerful Bridgerton family through their courtship seasons.
Period: Regency era
Seasons: 3+
Filming: Bath, Hatfield House, Castle Howard
Watch: Netflix
Travel: See Bridgerton Locations in Bath

Royal Crescent in Bath England

Vanity Fair

About – A British historical period drama about a poverty-stricken girl who tries to move herself up in 1820’s English society. This is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by William Makepeace.

Starring Michael Palin (of Monty Python and Around the World in 80 Days) as William Makepeace, Olivia Cooke as Becky Sharp, Johnny Flynn as William Dobbin plus a multitude of British acting talent this is one period drama not to miss!

Period – Vanity Fair is set in 1820s London

Number of series – 2018/ 1 season / 7 episodes

Filmed – Fitzroy Square London, Syon Park London and Budapest.

Click to watch on Netflix

Syon Park West London.

About – A period drama about a group of midwives working in Poplar in the East End of London in the 1950s and 60s.

Based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth the series doesn’t shy away from portraying some of the social issues such as poverty or historical events of the day.

Storylines cover numerous issues including abortion, racial abuse, thalidomide, dementia, and domestic violence.

Period – Set in London in the 1950s and 1960’s

Number of series – 13+

Filmed – Although set in the East End of London most of the filming for this British television period drama takes place in Kent and Surrey. The Historical Dockyard at Chatham Kent is used to film the outdoor scenes.

Click to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Click here to book a Call the Midwife tour

Chatham Docks in Kent

Peaky Blinders

About – Period crime drama about a notorious gang in Birmingham, England. The gang is led by the fierce Tommy Shelby, a crime boss set on moving up in the world no matter the cost.

Period – Set in Birmingham in the early 1900s

Number of series – 5 seasons (30 episodes)

Filmed – Various locations in Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Saltaire and Yorkshire.

Click to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Click for a Peaky Blinders tour

Port Sunlight in Liverpool

Foyle’s War

About – This UK TV programme centres on criminal activity during the chaotic World War II period. DCS Christopher Foyle pursues justice at home on the East Sussex coast, while his son does battle as an RAF fighter pilot. After the war ends, Foyle becomes a spy as he takes up a role as a senior intelligence officer. 

Period – Set during and after World War II

Number of series – 8 series

Filmed – A real house in Hastings was used as Foyle’s home in the series

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

The English town of Hastings.

All Creatures Great and Small

About – This veterinary series is based around author James Herriott’s real-life experiences in the role. Living in the Yorkshire countryside, the young vet featured in the programme works alongside two other vets. Their housekeeper is also a star of the show. 

Period – The series is based on experiences occurring between 1940 and 1992, but is set in the late 1930s.

Number of series – 5 series

Filmed – The series is filmed where it was set, in the Yorkshire Dales. 

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

Click here to book a tour of All Creatures Great and Small locations in Yorkshire

Yorkshire Dales

Ted Lasso

About – Sporting comedy-drama series telling the tales of an English soccer team managed by an American football coach. The fictional team is AFC Richmond. Lasso is originally hired to lead the team to failure by a character seeking revenge, but his approach turns up surprising results. 

Period – Set in the present day

Number of series – 3 series (34 episodes)

Filmed – The first two series are set in south London and were also filmed in the real-life borough of Richmond. The home of west London club Hayes and Yeading United FC, the SkyEX Community Stadium, was used for scenes featuring the training ground and offices. 

For the third series, filming also took place in Amsterdam. Various big-name stadiums in the UK have also been seen on screen throughout the three series. 

Click here to book a tour of Ted Lasso locations in London

Ted lasso front door
See Ted Lasso’s front door on the tour!

Killing Eve

About – Series heroine Eve joins an undercover MI6 unit after being fired from MI5. Her mission is to pursue assassin Villanelle. Violent and near-death experiences then ensue, as Eve and Villanelle work both with and against one another. 

Period – Set in the present day

Number of series – 4 series (32 episodes)

Filmed – Killing Eve involved a variety of locations, including London, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Tuscany, Bucharest, and the county of Kent in the UK.  

Click to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

About: A sharp, politically charged thriller centring on the British Consul in Barcelona, dealing with international crises and personal betrayals.
Period: Present day
Seasons: 1+
Filming: London, Barcelona
Watch: Netflix

About: From the producers of Line of Duty, this tense thriller stars Vicky McClure as a bomb disposal expert navigating terror threats in London.
Period: Present day
Seasons: 2+
Filming: London
Watch: Amazon Prime (with BritBox or PBS Masterpiece add-on)

About: Martin Freeman delivers a powerful performance as a morally conflicted urgent response officer in Liverpool. A gritty, emotional police drama exploring the personal cost of frontline policing.
Period: Present day
Seasons: 2+
Filming: Liverpool
Watch: BritBox (via Amazon Prime in the US)

About – Murder, mayhem, and mystery in the villages of Midsomer in the British countryside. This British television detective series is based on the books of Caroline Graham about Chief Inspector Barnaby.

Starring John Nettles in the main role until 2011 when he was replaced by Neil Dudgeon this series has been immensely popular since its pilot episode shown in 1997.

Period – Set 1997 to present

Number of series – 24+

Filmed – Although set in the fictional village and county of Causton the series is filmed across South Oxfordshire.

The market towns of Thame, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford as well as the village of Warborough and small town of Watlington all feature in the series.

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

Click here for a tour of the Midsomer Murder locations

Inspired to visit the Cotswolds? Discover the 10 most beautiful towns and villages in this stunning area of England.

Henley on THames

About – A crime drama based on the novels of Ann Cleeves about Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope. Set in Northumberland and starring the wonderfully talented Brenda Blethyn (who does a mean Geordie accent) as the central character of Vera.

An 11th series has been confirmed which is fabulous news for fans of Vera!

Period – Present day

Number of series – 13+

Filmed – Showcasing Newcastle upon Tyne and the county of Northumberland in the North East of England.

Click to watch on – Netflix and Amazon Prime

Click for a Vera filming locations tour of Newcastle

Northumberland - Dunstanburgh Castle

Rosemary and Thyme

About – Rosemary and Thyme are rather like a grown-up version of the Famous Five. The gardening duo soon get their hands dirty by stumbling upon one mystery after another. Laura Thyme is a former police officer, while Rosemary Boxer has a PhD in plant (rather than human) pathology. 

Period – Set in the present day

Number of series – 3 series (22 episodes)

Filmed – Southern English counties including Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire featured in Rosemary and Thyme. A number of gardens across Britain and Europe were also used during filming.

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

Hidcote Gardens

About – Serial crime drama set in the fictional seaside town of Broadchurch in Dorset.

Starring Olivia Colman and David Tennant all three series tie together and follow the investigations of police detectives DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller in this psychological drama.

Period – Present day

Number of series – 3 seasons and 24 episodes

Filmed – On the Jurassic Coast in Dorset in the harbour village of West Bay.

Watch on Amazon Prime

West Bay Dorset

Heartbeat

About – A drama centred around the lives of the police constabulary, medical staff and residents of Ashfordly and Aidensfield in Yorkshire.

The series is based on the “Constable” books by Nicholas Rhea.

Period – Set in the 1960s

Number of series – 18 series (372 episodes)

Filmed – The series was filmed in Goathland in the heart of the North York Moors in Yorkshire.

Watch on Amazon Prime

Click here for a Heartbeat locations tour of Yorkshire

Goathland

Inspector Morse and Endeavour

About – Endeavour is a detective drama series and prequel to the popular Morse.

Set in Oxford both series follows the career of police officer Endeavour Morse.

Period – 1960s (Endeavour)

Number of series – Endeavour 7 series (30 episodes) and Morse – 7 series (33 episodes)

Filmed – Oxford

Watch on Amazon Prime

Book a Morse and Endeavour walking tour of Oxford

Oxford

Grantchester

About – This popular period drama and detective drama is set in the village of Grantchester in Cambridgeshire. The dual detective team of vicar Sidney Chambers (replaced in series 4 by new vicar William Davenport) and Detective Inspector Geordie Keating are based on the short stories by James Runcie.

Period – Set in the 1950s.

Number of series – 5 series (31 episodes)

Filmed – Grantchester does exist and is a small village on the River Cam a few miles south of Cambridge. The series is filmed on location in the village.

Watch on Amazon Prime

Click here for tours of Cambridge

Cambridge

Agatha Raisin

About – A comedy-drama with Ashley Jensen starring as the retiree who finds murder, mystery and mayhem in and around the picturesque Cotswold village she has made her new home.

Based on the novels of Marion Chesney

Period – Present day

Number of series – 3 series (16 episodes)

Filmed – The Cotswold villages of Stow-in-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Moreton-in-Marsh, and others appear in the show.

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

Click here for a tour of the Cotswolds or for more information about planning a visit to the Cotswolds read my Cotswolds Travel Guide

Cotswold Village

Father Brown

About – A favourite in our household the Father Brown stories are about a modest, compassionate priest who doubles as an effective crime solver in this series. Although a period drama and crime drama it is very much in the mould of Midsomer Murders.

The series is based on the short stories by G.K. Chesterton.

Period – 1950s

Number of series – 8 series (90 episodes)

Filmed – Set in the fictional village of Kembleford the series is filmed in the Cotswolds village of Blockley.

Watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Click for information about Cotswold tours

Inspector George Gently

About – British crime drama series set in the North East of England in the 1960s. Martin Shaw stars as the Inspector in the series based on Alan Hunter’s books.

Period – 1960s

Number of series – 8 series (25 episodes)

Filmed – Another fantastic crime drama series based in the North East George Gently was filmed on location in Durham, Teeside, Newcastle and Northumberland.

Watch on Amazon Prime

Durham Cathedral

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Sherlock

About – I am sure I don’t have to go into too much detail about Sherlock Holmes! This period drama and crime drama is definitely an example of the best British TV available.

Featuring Benedict Cumberbatch in the title role and Martin Freeman as his sidekick Dr Watson.

Period – Present day

Number of series – 4 series (13 episodes)

Filmed – In London including around 221b Baker Street!

Watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Book a Sherlock Holmes walking tour of London

Sherlock Holmes hat and a sign for Baker Street

Line of Duty

About – Line of Duty is based around a character who joins an anti-corruption unit within the police force. With his working partner, DC Kate Fleming, DS Steve Arnott uncovers links between seemingly unconnected incidents, and also to organised crime.

Period – Set in the present day

Number of series – 6 series (36 episodes)

Filmed – The fictional Central and East Midlands Constabularies are filmed in Birmingham for the first series. Northern Ireland was used as the setting for the following five series, Belfast in particular. 

Click to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Click here to book a tour of Line of Duty locations in Belfast

Only Fools and Horses

About – Only Fools and Horses charts the adventures of a pair of South London brothers, Del Boy and Rodney. Del is the real wheeler-dealer of the two, selling on anything he can come across.

The pair embark on multiple get-rich-quick schemes over the years. This is one of the UK’s best-loved comedy shows. 

Period – Set in the present day, from 1981 to 1991

Number of series – 7 series (64 episodes)

Filmed – Del and Rodney’s flat in the fictional Nelson Mandela House, Peckham was originally Harlech Tower in Acton in real life, then later switched to Whitemead House in Bristol. 

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

Click here to book a tour of Only Fools and Horses locations in Bristol

The Vicar of Dibley

About – The Vicar of Dibley is all about a female vicar living and working in an Oxfordshire village. This was after female vicars were permitted in the UK, following a 1992 change in the law.

Period – Set in the present day, from 1994 to 2007

Number of series – 3 series (20 episodes)

Filmed – Filming took place in Turville, near High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

Miranda

About – Miranda is a comedy show all about the character of the same name. In her 30s, Miranda repeatedly finds herself in awkward, embarrassing and odd situations. Miranda Hart wrote and starred in the programme. 

Period – Set in the present day, from 2009 to 2015

Number of series – 3 series (20 episodes)

Filmed – Filmed live at the BBC TV Centre and London Studios

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

About: A dark comedy sensation written by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag explores grief, guilt, and female agency with wit, heart, and fourth-wall-breaking brilliance.
Period: 2016–2019
Seasons: 2
Filming: Dartmouth Park (North London)
Watch: Amazon Prime

About: Fashion PR executive Edina and her outrageous best friend Patsy drink, shop, and insult their way through life in this irreverent, iconic sitcom that satirised 90s celebrity culture.
Period: 1992–2004
Seasons: 5 + specials
Filming: London, especially Holland Park
Watch: Amazon Prime

Great British Bake off

About – This popular British reality TV show (renamed the Great British Baking Show in the USA) sees a number of home bakers compete with each other to be crowned Britain’s best amateur baker. Originally presented by Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood while the presenters may have changed the show sticks to its winning formula.

Period: 2010–present
Seasons: 14+
Filming: Welford Park (Berkshire), Down Hall Hotel (Essex)
Watch: Channel 4 (UK), Netflix (US)

About: One of the longest-running sci-fi series in the world, Doctor Who follows a time-travelling alien known as The Doctor as they battle monsters and travel through time and space in the iconic TARDIS. A cultural institution.
Period: 1963–1989, rebooted 2005–present
Seasons: 26 original + 13+ reboot
Filming: BBC Wales (Cardiff), plus locations across England and Wales
Watch: BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime
Travel: Book a Doctor Who Filming Tour in Cardiff

About: Blending time-travel with romance and Scottish history, this sweeping epic follows Claire Randall, a WWII nurse who finds herself transported to 18th-century Scotland. Passion, politics, and the Highlands collide.
Period: 1940s & 1740s
Seasons: 7+
Filming: Multiple locations across Scotland, including Doune Castle and Glencoe
Watch: Amazon Prime
Travel: Take an Outlander Tour from Edinburgh

About: Moody, atmospheric, and uniquely bilingual, this Welsh detective series follows DCI Tom Mathias as he solves dark and complicated crimes in and around Aberystwyth. Beautiful yet bleak backdrops enhance the brooding drama.
Period: Present day
Seasons: 3
Filming: Aberystwyth and the surrounding Cambrian Mountains
Watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime

Alley in Edinburgh

About: Based on Ian Rankin’s gritty novels, Rebus is a Scottish crime series featuring the hard-drinking, sharp-witted detective navigating moral dilemmas and murders on the streets of Edinburgh.
Period: Present day
Seasons: 4
Filming: Edinburgh
Watch: Amazon Prime

Shetland Islands with some sheep

About: A second mention here — this series deserves a spotlight in both crime and regional categories. Its haunting landscapes and close-knit island community provide a unique and powerful setting for detective drama.
Period: Present day
Seasons: 8+
Filming: Shetland Isles, Glasgow (studio)
Watch: Amazon Prime

About: Set in the fictional Glenbogle estate, this drama-comedy follows reluctant laird Archie MacDonald as he returns to the Highlands to save his family home. A warm, feel-good favourite filled with Highland charm.
Period: Early 2000s
Seasons: 7
Filming: Badenoch & Strathspey, Ardverikie Estate
Watch: Amazon Prime

Plockton

About: A quirky mix of comedy and mystery, this 90s gem stars Robert Carlyle as the laid-back village policeman Hamish, who keeps peace in the fictional Highland village of Lochdubh — often through unconventional means.
Period: 1990s
Seasons: 3
Filming: Plockton, Kyle of Lochalsh
Watch: Amazon Prime

About: Based on Kate Atkinson’s bestselling novels, this drama follows private investigator Jackson Brodie as he uncovers secrets and solves cold cases across Edinburgh’s evocative streets and suburbs.
Period: Present day
Seasons: 2
Filming: Edinburgh
Watch: Amazon Prime

Edinburgh 3

Doc Martin

About – Set in the fictional Cornish village of Portwenn this comedy-drama series stars Martin Clunes as a socially inept Doctor who moves into the village from London.

Period – Set in the present day

Number of series – 6 seasons (70 episodes)

Filmed – The series is filmed in the Cornish village of Port Isaac

Click to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

Click here for a Doc Martin tour of Port Isaac

Inspired to visit Cornwall? Read more in my Cornwall Travel Guide

Port Isaac

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Last Tango in Halifax

About – This comedy-drama series starring Sarah Lancashire, Anne Reid, Nicola Walker and Derek Jacobi (and. a plethora of other best British TV actors followed the lives of a couple in their 70s as they embark on a love affair.

The series has won a multitude of awards including the British Academy Award for Best Drama Series.

Period – Present day

Number of series – 5 series (24 episodes)

Filmed – In the English county of Yorkshire.

Watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime

West Yorkshire town of Halifax.

Happy Valley

About – Happy Valley centres on police sergeant Catherine Cawood, a divorced and bereaved mother whose daughter committed suicide. This British crime drama is set in West Yorkshire, and the main character also has to contend with the man who raped her daughter, resulting in her raising her grandson. 

Period – Set in the present day

Number of series – 3 series (18 episodes)

Filmed – Filming took place in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire, where the show is set

Click to watch on Amazon Prime

NETFLIX SERIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Greece!

My Family and Other Animals

About – Based on writer and naturalist Gerald Durrell’s autobiography, My Family and Other Animals is set in the 1930s. During that time, Durrell lived on the Greek island of Corfu with his mother and siblings. 

Period – Set during the 1930s

Number of series – 1 series (10 episodes)

Filmed – Much of My Family and Other Animals was filmed on location in Corfu, Greece
Click to watch on Amazon Prime

Which is your favourite British TV series?

Did your favourite British TV series appear in this selection? If not why not pop over to my UK and London Travel Planning Group on Facebook and let me know!

Also you may have found some new series to watch too and ideas for your travels in the UK (so many great themed tours to choose from!)

If you enjoy foreign language films and TV shows (subtitled or dubbed) you may enjoy my selection of French TV series to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime or my selection of the best French films. Also check out my choice of Australian movies and TV series, Italian TV series, Danish TV series and South African movies too!

P.S Don’t forget to sign up for Amazon Prime where you can watch thousands of movies and TV shows (including lots mentioned in this article) anytime. Start the free trial now!