Grab Some Snacks and Binge on These 23 Iconic British Period Dramas

The Durrells may be a British comedy drama, but it's actually set in Corfu in the 1930s. Based on Gerald Durrell's memoirs, it stars the always excellent Keeley Hawes (not her only appearance on this list) as a struggling young widow who moves her four children to Europe. The costumes are as excellent as you're hoping and this is easy Sunday afternoon viewing.

Watch it on Netflix.

Do you like your period dramas brooding? Then you'll like Poldark. Set in the 18th century, the lead character of Ross Poldark is played by the very easy-on-the-eyes Aidan Turner. He returns to Cornwall from the American Revolutionary War to discover that his father has died and his estate is in ruins. His childhood sweetheart is also engaged to his cousin. Will his luck turn? There are four series to watch to help you find out.

Watch it on Netflix.

The name probably gives this show away: it's all about Queen Victoria. It stars Jenna Coleman in the title role (eagle eyes will recognise her from Doctor Who) and begins with Victoria's ascension to the throne and continues with her marriage to Albert. A second season is airing right now, so grab some snacks and settle in, you've got a lot to catch up on.

Watch it on Now TV. BYO crown.

The Crown has done wonders for the reputation of our royal family, but it threw a lot of questions at us, too. Why didn't Elizabeth ever wear cropped trousers when her sister Margaret looked so amazing in them? If we fancy Matt Smith as Prince Philip, do we . . . fancy Prince Philip? In the next season, the show finally introduces Princess Diana, played by Emma Corrin, and we cannot wait.

Watch it on Netflix

Based on the life of 18th century lawyer William Garrow, this period legal drama is short but sweet. As with modern courtroom dramas, there's a different case to be solved each week, but of course Garrow's own drama runs alongside the shorter story lines (and yes, of course, there's a love interest). There are only three seasons of the show, and although it feels like the BBC cut this short way too soon, it's still a cracker.

Buy Garrow's Law on DVD (£15).

The BBC's adaptation of Flora Thompson's semiautobiographical novels told the story of a close community living in the hamlet of Lark Rise and the nearby town of Candleford in the late 19th century. Often compared to the similarly-themed Cranford, it featured an ensemble cast of big names including Dawn French and Julia Sawalha, and ran for four seasons between 2008 and 2011.

Watch it on Google Play.

It's no secret that many at POPSUGAR are massive fans of Peaky Blinders, which is set in Birmingham just after World War I (it's quite refreshing to see a city-based period drama that isn't set in London). The show is about a family of criminal gangsters, and stars Cillian Murphy as the charismatic head of the family, Tommy Shelby. Don't make plans once you start watching this — you'll cancel them three episodes in.

Watch it on Netflix.

Colin Firth puts in an iconic performance as Mr. Darcy in Andrew Davies's iconic 1995 BBC adaptation Pride & Prejudice. He was absolutely born to play Jane Austen's brooding leading man, and we'd even suggest that the role shaped the rest of his career — remember him playing Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones's Diary? This series never, ever gets old. Even if you've seen it dozens of times before, it's definitely time for a rewatch.

Watch it on Netflix.

Jane Austen's beloved classics like Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion have been charming readers for centuries now. But as delightful as the books are, there's something even more exhilarating about seeing Jane Austen's works being adapted for television and film. Case in point: Sanditon, Andrew Davies's take on Ms. Austen's unfinished novel about a young woman's adventures in a seaside town brimming with drama. The PBS Masterpiece series is unrepentant in its sexiness (we're still not over the shock of seeing Mr. Sidney Parker's bare bum), and it's happy to subvert expectations by tackling subjects like racism head on. The series takes a nugget of Austen's work and turns it into something fresh, fun, and current. Unfortunately, there's only one season, and we're unlikely to get anymore.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Tolstoy's sweeping literary classic, set during the Napoleonic wars and the French invasion of Russia, has been adapted many times, but the most recent lavish BBC adaptation (which aired in 2016) definitely holds its own. Penned by Andrew Davies (the man behind the BBC's beloved Pride & Prejudice), War and Peace featured a huge cast of period drama veterans alongside young stars like Lily James, Aneurin Barnard, and James Norton.

Watch it on Netflix.

We're not suggesting that Matthew MacFadyen is the only reason to watch Ripper Street, but he is a very, very good reason. As the name suggests, the crime thriller is set in Whitechapel after the final Jack the Ripper murder, but when more women start being killed, detectives wonder if the killer has returned.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Long before he won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for Homeland, Damien Lewis became known in British households for his role in The Forsyte Saga. A 1960s adaptation of this generational drama (set at the turn of the century) was a roaring success, so people were expecting a lot from the 2002 remake. It didn't disappoint, spanning two seasons.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

The setting of everyone's favourite Belgian detective Hercule Poirot's adventures isn't explicit, but most episodes are set in the 1930s. Alongside David Suchet's brilliant acting and Agatha Christie's excellent plots, ITV also serves up amazing costumes and Art Deco settings across its long-running series.

There are often a few episodes of Poirot available on ITV Hub. If you want a modern twist on the classic, watch The ABC Murders on iPlayer, which stars John Malkovich in the title role.

If we are to believe Showtime, Henry VIII was hot and he had a lot of sex, so that's what you're getting with The Tudors, a lavish drama set during Henry's reign. There is a plot around all of the snogging, and they actually stick to the larger historical events pretty faithfully, but this is glamorous drama at its best. It stars Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn before she hit the big time, too.

Watch it on Amazon Prime.

Set in the poverty-stricken east of London in the 1950s, you would be forgiven for thinking that Call the Midwife is a wholesome, gentle Sunday-night drama. But don't be fooled: though it can stray into sentiment, it packs more punch than you might be expecting. It's based on a real-life biography and the latest series has had viewers sobbing into their sofa cushions during every episode.

Watch it on Netflix, and don't forget tissues.

The rural town of Cranford in Cheshire was ruled by its matriarchs, and this series puts them centre stage. This series was inspired by the whimsical, romantic novels of Elizabeth Gaskell, and Dame Judi Dench was a huge draw for the show. There were only five episodes, but it was popular enough for producers to make a two-part Christmas special. Tom Hiddleston fans will want to check it our for one of his early performances.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Who knew Chris O'Dowd would be so great in a serious role? After watching the actor in hit comedy shows, seeing him in a dramatic role was a surprise, but he's excellent in this atmospheric mini series. He stars alongside Romola Garai, who plays prostitute Sugar, in this tale of sex and murder in Victorian London.

Buy The Crimson Petal and the White (£12) on DVD.

One withering look from Maggie Smith is enough to curdle milk. ITV's period drama Downton Abbey quickly became a global success story, thanks in no small part to the incredible cast and the perfect script by Gosford Park writer Julian Fellowes. There's something of the Upstairs, Downstairs about it, although it's set in Yorkshire and not London. It takes place at the turn of the 20th century and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their staff. After a couple of episodes, you'll be hooked.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Giving many people their first introduction to Rebecca Ferguson, The White Queen is an adaptation of the first books in Philippa Gregory's The Cousins' War series. It's a heavily fictionalised account of the life of Elizabeth Woodville, consort to King Edward VI, and her rivals and allies during the Wars of the Roses. With plenty of powerful female characters, it's just as dramatic, romantic, and over the top as you'd hope. A follow-up series, The White Princess, starring Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, is also available, and takes the action into the early Tudor period.

Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Another appearance on our list for Keeley Hawes, this version of Upstairs, Downstairs isn't the first — the BBC originally made the series in 1971. However, it's this one that we love for its sparkling cast and glamour. It follows on from the original series at 165 Eaton Place, London, taking place six years after the show concluded on the brink of WWII.

Buy Upstairs Downstairs (£9) on DVD.