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British TV shows have never been in greater demand, with Netflix’s Bridgerton inspiring a growing obsession with the Regency Era and beyond. While Downton Abbey continues to foster a huge fanbase, especially now that a third movie is in development, a newer generation of British shows continue to prove there’s immense talent in the United Kingdom. The Crown has ended, but show like Max’s Industry and Apple TV+’s Trying offer a brand new perspective of what life in England is really like. From classic sitcoms to hard-hitting dramas and unmissable thrillers, here are 35 of the best British TV shows streaming in 2024.
1
Baby Reindeer
Created by actor and writer Richard Gadd, and based on his one-man show of the same name, Baby Reindeer instantly became a pop culture sensation when it dropped on Netflix. Baby Reindeer tells the story of Donny, an aspiring comedian whose life is turned upside down when a lonely woman named Martha walks into his place of work. What follows is a terrifying story of stalking, abuse, and the desire for human connection.
2
One Day
Based on the novel by David Nicholls, Netflix’s adaptation of One Day tells the story of best friends Dex and Em in 14 episodes. Revisiting the pair on the same day every year, the series tracks twenty years of friendship, which includes unforgettable events, devastating arguments, and relationships with other people. Follow it up with the movie starring Anne Hathaway.
3
Heartstopper
Netflix series Heartstopper is based on the series of graphic novels of the same name by Alice Oseman. A heartfelt coming-of-age drama, the series follows gay teenager Charlie and his close group of friends. Charlie attends an all-boys grammar school where he develops feelings for one of his classmates, who just so happens to be a popular kid on the rugby team.
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4
Top Boy
This British crime drama is set on a fictional estate in London’s Hackney, where Dushane (Ashley Walters) and Sully (Kane Robinson) find themselves involved in conflict in the drug dealing community. From dangerous rivalries to personal tragedies, Top Boy’s first two seasons gripped viewers when they aired on British TV. Netflix revived the series in 2017 at the behest of Drake, completing the story with three new seasons on the streamer.
5
Slow Horses
Based on the popular book series by Mike Heron, Slow Horses stars Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, a talented yet impersonable intelligence officer. Like many other agents, he has been relegated to MI5’s Slough House, a department for disgraced or unsuccessful employees. Despite their lowly status, the group, known as “slow horses,” end up demonstrating their talents by solving mysteries and stopping disasters.
6
The Buccaneers
Forget Bridgerton; The Buccaneers tells the story of five young American women who head to London in the 1870s in search of love and success. Despite coming from wealthy backgrounds in New York, integration into high society is near-impossible, with their nouveau riche status appearing crass to their British counterparts. Taking place between England and America, The Buccaneers is a dreamy transatlantic tale of love, friendship, feminism, heartbreak, and strength. The soundtrack is killer, too.
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7
Still Up
Insomniac Danny (Craig Roberts) is an agoraphobic journalist whose main connection to the outside world is his phone friendship with Lisa, an illustrator who also can’t sleep. Over the course of countless nights, the pair share everything about their lives, forging a deep and funny friendship, despite having only seen each other in person once. Criminally canceled after just one season, Still Up is the perfect British TV rom-com binge, packed with pitch perfect comedic performances.
8
Peaky Blinders
Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy stars as crime boss Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, a crime drama set following World War I. The series focuses on a street gang in Birmingham, England, nicknamed the Peaky Blinders. Tommy leads his family members in a number of dangerous exploits, consisting of violence, gambling, burglary, extortion, and the battle for power. The popular series ran for six seasons and featured the talents of everyone from Anya Taylor-Joy to Tom Hardy and Adrien Brody.
9
Gavin and Stacey
Before James Corden headed to America to seek his fortune, he co-created Gavin and Stacey, an endearing and hilarious British comedy about an unlikely couple. A telephone romance leads to a long distance relationship in the sitcom, with Gavin and Stacey’s very different friends and families meshing in unexpected ways. Moving between Billericay in Essex and Barry in Wales, the adorable couple must decide if they’re meant to be together or not.
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10
Everything Now
Teenager Mia (Talk to Me’s Sophie Wilde) returns to school following a rehab stay for disordered eating, and feels as though she’s missed some major milestones in her friends’ lives. As a result, she decides to create bucket list, hoping that working her way through her list of experiences will help her catch up with the lost time. From bitter rivalries to major crushes, Everything Now submerges viewers in the life of a teenager trying to find their place in an unfamiliar world.
11
Industry
HBO's Industry takes us inside the fierce and competitive world of fictional investment bank Pierpoint & Co in London. New recruits fight for employment, while navigating exceedingly messy personal lives. Kit Harington joins the show for its eagerly-anticipated third season.
12
Downton Abbey
The world instantly fell in love with Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes' fictional series about an aristocratic family living on a country estate in the early 20th century. The immense charm of the series comes from the relationships formed between the family and their employees, from butlers to kitchen aids. Two movies followed.
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13
This Is Going to Hurt
Based upon Adam Kay's memoir, This Is Going to Hurt is an unrelenting examination of what it's like to work as a junior doctor in a hospital in the United Kingdom. Ben Whishaw stars as Adam, a young doctor working in the obstetrics and gynaecology department, and dealing with all of the horror and politics it entails.
14
Black Mirror
Charlie Brooker's dystopian TV series only gets darker the long it runs. The dark anthology show has explored everything from our voracious desire for true crime narratives to the frivolous way we share our personal information online. Season 6 stars everyone from Salma Hayek to Aaron Paul.
15
Killing Eve
Viewers quickly fell in love with the cat and mouse chase between investigator Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and dangerous assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Based on the Villanelle novel series by Luke Jennings, this unexpected and often-volatile relationship was explored for four seasons.
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16
Fleabag
Phoebe Waller-Bridge burst on to the scene with Fleabag, a TV series adapted from her stage show of the same name. While dealing with grief, Fleabag muddles through life and love with a unique wit and a penchant for breaking the fourth wall.
17
Sex Education
Set in the fictional Moordale Secondary School, Sex Education explores the often-embarrassing teenage years we've all lived through. The incredible cast features Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, and Emma Mackey, among others.
18
Bridgerton
Netflix's smash hit Bridgerton marked Shondaland's debut on the streaming service. Adapted from Julia Quinn's series of Regency Era-inspired novels, Bridgerton focuses on the social hierarchy in London society, and the over-the-top romances occurring between eligible suitors. The show's first spin-off, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, arrived in 2023.
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19
Catastrophe
Catastrophe explores what happens when a fling leads to pregnancy. Throughout four seasons, Sharon and Rob attempt to build a life after unexpectedly welcoming a child together. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney created, wrote, and star in the hilarious show, while Carrie Fisher makes a wonderful guest appearance.
20
Luther
Idris Elba stars as DCI John Luther in this gritty police drama, which sees him forced to choose between his personal relationships and his talent for solving bloody crimes. The Affair's Ruth Wilson plays a wonderful nemesis. Most recently, the detective returned in Netflix film Luther: The Fallen Son.
