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These 17 British TV Shows on Netflix Are Just Our Cup of Tea

21/08/2019 - 09:50 PM

When it comes to British TV shows on Netflix, the first things you probably think of are smash-hit dramas like The Crown [1] or elegant period pieces [2] where everyone wears long skirts or suits. But there's so much more that our friends across the pond have to offer! The selection of British shows [3] on Netflix is surprisingly robust, encompassing everything from those expected historical dramas [4] to quirky modern comedies and much more. While some of these shows already have mainstream name recognition, chances are you've never heard of some of the others. Ahead, check out our picks for the best British TV shows on Netflix to add to your queue!

Black Mirror

The anthology sci-fi series explores a high-tech, futuristic world that combines technological advancements with twisty, dark thriller plots. Most episodes are standalone stories, rather than season-long myth arcs.

Watch Black Mirror on Netflix. [5]

Bodyguard

A military vet is assigned to the protection detail of a politician whose politics are the polar opposite of his own. As their relationship grows more complicated, the threads of a conspiracy begin to make themselves known, leaving everyone in danger.

Watch Bodyguard on Netflix. [6]

Broadchurch

Over the course of three seasons, a pair of detectives investigate crimes in a small coastal town, beginning with the murder of a young boy. Although each season has its own main through-line, the fallout from each season continues to affect the characters over the years.

Watch Broadchurch on Netflix. [7]

Call the Midwife

Set in the 1950s and 1960s, the dramedy follows a group of nurse midwives in a London neighbourhood. The lives of the midwives and the women and families they work with intersect and complement each other in unexpected ways.

Watch Call the Midwife on Netflix. [8]

The Crown

The British royal family is quite possibly the most famous family in the world. This drama depicts a semi-fictionalized version of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, recasting every two seasons to show the passage of decades. Its third season is set to debut this November.

Watch The Crown on Netflix. [9]

Derry Girls

During the political conflicts of Northern Ireland in the 1990s, a group of teenagers just try to get through high school, with all the indignities that involves.

Watch Derry Girls on Netflix. [10]

The Fall

In Northern Ireland, a determined police investigator is assigned to an active murder case. It quickly becomes clear that a serial killer is involved, and things only get twistier from there.

Watch The Fall on Netflix. [11]

The Great British Baking Show

If you're tired of overly intense cooking competitions, this is the show for you. With a simple, sweet, and funny format, a group of amateur bakers produce incredible baked goods and try to avoid the dreaded "soggy bottoms," all without an ounce of faux drama.

Watch The Great British Baking Show on Netflix. [12]

The Inbetweeners

A quartet of boys attempt to navigate teenage life with a minimum of embarrassment in this coming-of-age comedy. Unfortunately for them, they're unsuccessful more often than not.

Watch The Inbetweeners on Netflix. [13]

The IT Crowd

A group of IT techs try to keep a corporation's offices running. There's just one problem: one of the employees lied on her resume — she barely knows a thing about computers.

Watch The IT Crowd on Netflix. [14]

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Based on a historical fantasy novel, this miniseries follows a rivalry between two magicians. In the early 19th century, in a world where magic is real, two men discover their gifts of magic and embark on colliding paths.

Watch Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell on Netflix. [15]

The Last Kingdom

In the Middle Ages, a Saxon boy grows up as the ward of the Danish warlord who conquered his tribe. When that family is also slaughtered, the boy, now a grown warrior, embarks on a quest for revenge.

Watch The Last Kingdom on Netflix. [16]

London Spy

It start out simply at first: a young man falls in love with a genius MI6 coder. But when tragedy strikes, he's swept into a conspiracy far beyond anything he expected as he tries to figure out who the man he loved really was.

Watch London Spy on Netflix. [17]

Merlin

In the early days of Camelot, a young warlock is forced to hide his magic when he becomes a manservant to the spoiled Prince Arthur. Over many years, the two men must grow into their destinies side by side to bring Camelot into its golden age.

Watch Merlin on Netflix. [18]

Peaky Blinders

In the years following World War I, the Shelby gang embarks on a slew of criminal activity. Loosely based on a real gang from the early 20th century, the series depicts the ongoing entanglements of the gang's members and law enforcement.

Watch Peaky Blinders on Netflix. [19]

Sherlock

It's the show that made Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman into international household names. In contemporary London, the oddball genius detective and his trusty ex-military doctor BFF solve crimes and unravel conspiracies.

Watch Sherlock on Netflix. [20]

The Windsors

If The Crown is an elegant, thought-provoking look at the British royal family, The Windsors are the crazy cousins. The comedy pokes fun at fictionalized versions of the royals, with storylines that parody real events.

Watch The Windsors on Netflix. [21]


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