The Best British TV Shows on Netflix

These imports will go great with tea and biscuits.

the great british baking show judges
'The Great British Baking Show' | Netflix
'The Great British Baking Show' | Netflix

In recent years, fans of British television have been in luck: Thanks to Netflix's partnerships with BBC, Channel 4, and other production studios, the streaming service has been able to license and co-produce more than a handful of series, bringing them accessibly stateside for the first time. There's a little something for everyone: Not only does Netflix have the rights to quite a few classic procedurals, there are a lot of sitcoms flaunting their absurdist British humor in the mix too. Below, find the best series from across the pond currently available to stream—all of which are worth watching paired with a cup of tea.

behind her eyes
Netflix

Behind Her Eyes (2021)

If you've heard anything about Behind Her Eyes, the Netflix miniseries adapted from Sarah Pinborough's novel, you've probably heard about its wild final episode. As it turns out, the show has approximately a thousand twists—and even though it isn't good, per se, the payoff is rather delicious. Our batshit story begins when single mother Louise (Simona Brown) shows up to new job in a psychiatrist's office, only to find the man (Tom Bateman) she hooked up with the night before is her new boss. It's one trashy twist that gets the ball rolling, as they end up in a heated affair, and she befriends his needy wife (Eve Hewson). If it seems to you like the setup for a salacious but otherwise pretty straightforward drama, you'd be forgiven, because that is exactly what it seems like, but you'd also be wrong. It's shocking and weird—and don't you want to see for yourself what it's really all about?.

richard madden in bodyguard
Sophie Mutevelian/World Productions/Netflix

Bodyguard (2018)

As one might expect, the Royalty and Specialist Protection Branch of London’s police service handles a number of dangerous missions. Following officer David Budd, portrayed by Richard Madden of Games of Thrones fame, Bodyguard documents this high-risk job, specifically in the protection of the UK’s Home Secretary (Keeley Hawes). In the Netflix original, although Budd must devote himself to the politician’s protection, he is still reeling from PTSD after serving in Afghanistan, and feels conflicted working for a major proponent of the war. A political thriller at its finest, Bodyguard illustrates the various costs at play in Budd’s role, from his personal views to potential attacks and developing attraction for a woman whose policies he cannot stand—never failing to leave out the drama over the course of six easily bingeable episodes.

black mirror
Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix

Black Mirror (2011– )

Each installment of Charlie Brooker's addictive anthology takes a current techno-social phenomenon—topics that range from hashtags to five-star ratings—to its extreme and asks whether human nature can coexist with it. Part satire and part (unintentional) prophecy, the series presents an appropriately grim view of the future, one that will definitely make you worry for the next generation and maybe even galvanize you into action. You can take in one episode at a time, or digest an entire three-to-six-episode season without batting an eye. 

call the midwife
All3Media

Call the Midwife (2012– )

The Brits know how to do period pieces, and post-WWII especially well. This series, which starts off at the dawn of the Baby Boom and moves through history accordingly, happens to be one of BBC One's most popular shows that's run for 10 seasons and still going strong. Following a group of midwives—who are convincingly proven to be the pinnacle of all drama, even if you've seldom thought of them as such—Call the Midwife paints colorful characters in a group of working class women in London's East End to explore their struggles and a handful of sociopolitical issues, from the introduction of contraception to legalization of abortion, over time. There's always something with the nurses at the Nonnatus House, and history buffs should be itching to join them.

carey mulligan in collateral
Liam Daniel/Netflix

Collateral (2018)

At first glance, Collateral may look like another run-of-the-mill British procedural. But peel back the layers and it becomes something else: not a mystery so much as the first incision of Britain's post-Brexit autopsy, anchored by several dynamic female characters, including a stunning performance from Carey Mulligan as the lead detective on the case in the show. The miniseries comes from playwright and screenwriter David Hare for his TV debut, and follows the investigation into the murder of a pizza delivery man who happens to be a Syrian refugee. It turns out to be a case that’s much more convoluted than it first appeared, and is dissected, along with British politics, over the course of four episodes. It's a BBC/Netflix co-production that ends up defying tropes, elevating its material into something much bigger. 

phoebe waller-bridge in crashing
Channel 4

Crashing (2016)

Unlike many sitcoms featuring young people who seem to have a remarkable number of resources at their disposal, Crashing centers on the relationships that develop among a makeshift community of young property guardians at an abandoned hospital. You'll see where Emmy-winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge appeared ahead of Fleabag, and feel equally taken by the emotional woes that fill the time between partying. At only six short episodes, this lighthearted 20-something comedy definitely deserves a binge.

criminal uk
Jose Haro/Netflix

Criminal: UK (2019–2020)

It's no denying that the Brits have mastered the crime show. While they never get sick of churning out more run-of-the-mill yet addicting cat-and-mouse detective stories, that doesn't mean they're not interested in switching up the genre, too. Criminal: UK, for instance, which is a part of Netflix's international Criminal series, is a recent twist on it. The anthology is based around the gimmick that each episode takes place within the confines of an investigation room where investigators attempt to pull the truth out of their suspects. The claustrophobia is real, but it's by no means boring. This series is extremely suspenseful as a psychological game unfolds before you.

claire foy in the crown
Alex Bailey/Netflix

The Crown (2016– )

Peter Morgan's meticulously crafted and very expensive bit of royal history-slash-fan fiction has become one of Netflix's most reliable products largely thanks to its parade of impeccable performances. Miraculously the bit of swapping out actors to play the major roles as the series moves through time has worked splendidly with Claire Foy and Matt Smith's work as Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip giving way to Olivia Colman's and Tobias Menzies'. There are certainly frustrations to be had with what Morgan chooses to focus on—for example, decolonization receives scant attention, but the Great Smog of London merits a multi-episode storyline. Still, The Crown has only gotten more intriguing with age, introducing Princess Diana, played at first by Emma Corrin, breathed new life into the enterprise.

derry girls
Netflix

Derry Girls (2018– )

Teen shows are often good for some laughs, but few are as goddamn hysterical as Derry Girls. The Channel 4/Netflix co-production about Catholic schoolgirls in the '90s living through the end of the Northern Ireland Troubles is all about their own unfiltered teenaged troubles, and outright laugh-out-loud hilarious. The entire cast and their quirks are near perfect; after a quick binge, you'll find there's no other fictional crew you'd rather kick-back with.

alex lawther in the end of the f***ing world
Netflix

The End of the F***ing World (2018–2019)

This isn't your average teen drama. The show, adapted from the popular Charles Forsman graphic novel of the same name, follows a 17-year-old named James as he tries to become the psychopath he thinks he is. Though it sounds a little bit like Dexter Jr., it's really more of a fucked-up love story sans the cliché six-packs and twee romances—something somewhere between Juno and Twin Peaks. In this series' twisted world, to murder means to mature. It's dark and creepy, but it also offers enough humor and tenderness to make what turns into a chaotic road trip across the British country side endearing. Or, as showrunner Jonathan Entwistle told us, "It's an angsty teen story, but with an adult execution"—the word "execution," in this case, carrying particular weight. 

olivia colman in flowers
Channel 4

Flowers (2016–2018)

There's no shortage of strange families in gothic stories, and showrunner Will Sharpe's caricature of the fictional Flowers family is perhaps one of the most eccentric, bleakest, yet still funny shows out there. The father, Maurice, is a depressed children's book writer; his wife, played by Olivia Colman, is a music teacher who couldn't be less in love with her husband; and their grown-up twins and Maurice's elderly mother live with them on their eerie estate. It's a bit unsettling, but the comedic tone will leave you seeing your own relatives reflected in this mix. 

great british baking show
Netflix

The Great British Baking Show (2010– )

If you still haven't indulged in this confectionary UK delight, clear enough room for a multi-season binge. Hosts through the seasons—the originals Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins, swapped with Noel Fielding and Sandi Toksvig/Matt Lucas—along with judges—first Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood, then Prue Leith and Paul Hollywood—mix charm and no-holds-barred cooking criticism as they navigate a sea of bakers vying to become the next masters of dough-proving, top-glazing, and edge-icing. God forbid Paul finds a soggy bottom. There's something absolutely pure about Great British Baking Show, making it one of the nicest—and we mean that as a plus—reality shows ever to hit television.

chris o'down and richard ayoade in the it crowd
Channel 4

The IT Crowd (2006–2013)

The traditional "three-camera" stage sitcom can be done well. Cheers, Seinfeld, and Frasier all mastered it. But by the 2000s, the notion of shooting comedy in front of a live studio audience was all but dead—at least in America. The IT Crowd, starring Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, and Katherine Parkinson as a lowly tech team residing in the basement of a major British corporation, proved there was still joy to bouncy dialogue and silly sight gags in a modern setting. Tremendously goofy and heartfelt, this show could easily replace hanging out with your actual friends.

the last kingdom
Adrienn Szabo/Netflix

The Last Kingdom (2015–2022)

If you like Game of Thrones, but wish it had zero magic, The Last Kingdom is for you. Set in medieval England, it pits Danish invaders (aka Vikings) against the divided kingdoms on the British Isles. At the center of it all is Uhtred, an English noble captured and raised by the Vikings, but who subsequently fights for the English in battles that help "medieval" live up to its reputation as a time when the brutality of humans was perpetually on display in bloody hand-to-hand combat.

celia and alan in last tango in halifax, Derek Jacobi in last tango in halifax
BBC One

Last Tango in Halifax (2012–2020)

Last Tango in Halifax is the kind of show your parents might call you to rave about, but it's also so delightful that you should actually take their suggestion. The Yorkshire-set series focuses on Celia (Anne Reid) and Alan (Derek Jacobi), who were smitten in their youths but never admitted their feelings to each other because of a blunder involving an undelivered love letter. When they're both widowed and reunited 60 years later, there's a lifetime's worth of feelings to explore, and family melodrama to navigate. A rare series with a primarily older cast, although it tends to run a bit treacly, it's the epitome of a comforting rom-com, and the quaint setting will make you want to move to a cozy, country town and start over anew.

antonia thomas and johnny flynn in lovesick
Netflix

Lovesick (2014–2018)

When Lovesick dropped on Netflix, it was terribly titled Scrotal Recall, which was more descriptive of its plot but also more disgusting. In the actually very sweet British comedy, a young man (Johnny Flynn) discovers he has chlamydia and must revisit his relationships as he contacts his past sexual partners to let them know. But beyond the awkwardness of the premise, Lovesick delves into melancholy matters of finding out just who you want to partner with for the rest of your life.

marcella
ITV

Marcella (2016– )

Do you like British mystery shows that wrap up over the course of eight tightly wound, 45-minute episodes? This one is for you. Starring Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies) as a London detective bouncing back from a nasty split and a turbulent entry into single motherhood, the hard-nosed series pairs serial killer investigation with familial struggle, which only intensifies when the main mystery connects to Marcella's husband's current employers.

merlin colin morgan
Fremantle

Merlin (2008–2012)

If you missed this King Arthur retelling back in its heyday, or simply want to revisit the adventures of Merlin and the Knights of the Round Table, there's no better time than now to start watching. The series stars Bradley James as the young King Arthur and Colin Morgan as his magical counterpart Merlin, who, after saving Arthur's life by chance, has to keep his magic powers a secret from his best friend or risk death. 

Monty Python's Flying Circus
BBC1

Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)

If you have a hankering for absurdist British humor, Monty Python remains the cream of the crop. Their original sketch comedy show Monty Python's Flying Circus is where it all began, and the skits laced with innuendos, surrealist bits, and shockingly highbrow references are always worth a rewatch—the "It's" man and Pepperpots will never not be funny. 

cillian murphy in peaky blinders
Robert Viglasky/Netflix

Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)

Cillian Murphy stars in this early-20th-century period drama as Thomas Shelby, a World War I vet-turned-patriarchal crime boss who wants to up his family's social and financial status in England. The Shelbys' story plays out as historical fiction, loosely inspired by the exploits of real-life gangs based in Birmingham around the late 1800s and early 1900s. Rivaling bands of thugs clash for underworld influence here in a way that is not unlike on Game of Thrones, just on a less fantastical scale: high-stakes political power plays, shady back-room dealings, and gritty tussles abound, with enough blood to rival the Red Wedding. (The show's name comes from the razor blades stitched in the Shelbys' flat caps, after all.) 

ncuti gatwa in sex education
Netflix

Sex Education (2019– )

Creator Laurie Nunn's British teen dramedy about Otis (Asa Butterfield), the son of a sex therapist who somewhat unwittingly parlays his secondhand sexual knowledge into a successful business counseling fellow students is a Netflix original gem. Although the show is anchored by Butterfield, his business associate Maeve played by Emma Mackey, and Gillian Anderson (as Otis' mom, Jean), the ensemble cast adds nuance to a story that could gone low and focused merely on the sex, but opted for a more thoughtful route. The incredible chemistry between all of the cast members and an undeniable John Hughes vibe (think Pretty in Pink) elevate this easily binged show above a sea of mediocre teen angst programs.

stay close
James Stack/Netflix

Stay Close (2021)

Britain has been hard at work adapting Harlan Coben's famous crime-thriller novels, and the latest is Stay Close, which stars The Good Fight's Cush Jumbo as Megan Pierce, a suburban mother with a dark past who is somehow connected to the disappearance of her neighbor, whose cold case has haunted a local detective for 17 years. When another member of the community goes missing on the anniversary of the disappearance, everyone's lives are upended as dark secrets finally come to the surface. 

still game
BBC Scotland

Still Game (2002–2019)

Still Game is like if Golden Girls was 10x more crude and focused on a pair of elderly Scottsmen. Which is to say, the show—created by and starring Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill, who recycled their curmudgeonly loud-mouthed characters Jack and Victor from their sketch show Chewin' the Fat—is funny as hell. You might have a tough time picking up all of their Glaswegian slang, but you'll be laughing at their complaints of the fictional Craiglang as they scrape by on their pensions and bug their neighbors in no time.

the stranger richard armitage
Netflix

The Stranger (2020)

Another Harlan Coben miniseries, The Stranger stars Richard Armitage as a suburban father and husband whose idyllic life is upended by a strange woman who tells him that his wife faked a pregnancy and miscarriage years ago. When he confronts his wife about her secret, she says she'll tell him everything when the time is right and then disappears. He becomes consumed by his search to find out what happened to her and what dark forces caused her to keep a secret from him. 

top boy
Chris Harris/Netflix

Top Boy (2011– )

Thanks to Drake, this underrated crime drama is seeing a second life on Netflix. It originally aired (and ended too soon) from 2011–2013, but was tabbed for a reboot by the rapper and the series' original showrunners. It's a gritty story about the hustle of two drug dealers in East London (Ashley Walters and Kane Robinson) and the overwhelming trials they face trying to make it on the street. You'll be absolutely gripped, and the cast's portrayal of young men grappling with morality is as vulnerable as they come. (Just know, in order to watch the full series, Seasons 1 and 2 were renamed to Top Boy: Summerhouse and appear as a separate show on Netflix—but they're both available for your bingeing pleasure.) 

Want more Thrillist? Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat.