Fans of British television have had to wait decades for their favorite shows to air on PBS or a cable channel. Fortunately, Netflix has swooped up an outstanding array of series from the United Kingdom, obviating the necessity for traditional networks. In many respects, the United Kingdom has likewise been years ahead of the curve. Who do you believe came up with the quality-over-quantity strategy that Netflix and other streaming services have adopted? British TV programs are also frequently superior to American programs. However, if you want to watch the best British TV shows, you’ll have to wade through a lot of material. That is why we have compiled a list of the greatest British TV shows available on Netflix.
Best British TV shows on Netflix
Peaky Blinders
- Created by: Steven Knight
- Cast: Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, Helen McCrory
- Number of seasons: 5
- IMDb: 8.8/10
The narrative of the Shelby criminal family after World War I is told in this crime drama set in Birmingham, England. Cillian Murphy plays Tommy Shelby, the gang leader in the film, which is largely based on a genuine 19th-century urban youth group of the same name. The series has broadcasted five seasons so far, all of which are accessible to view. The series has received a lot of attention for being gripping and fast-paced with great writing, acting, visuals, and also cinematography.
Sex Education
- Created by: Laurie Nunn
- Cast: Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa
- Number of seasons: 2
- IMDb: 8.3/10
This British drama, which premiered in January 2019, has been described as emotional and unexpectedly smart. It stars Asa Butterfield as a socially awkward adolescent who is conflicted about sex because his mother (Gillian Anderson) is a sex therapist. According to Netflix, the series drew more than 40 million views when it first premiered on the platform; the second season premiered on January 17, 2020.
The Last Kingdom
- Created by: Stephen Butchard
- Cast: Alexander Dreymon, David Dawson, Emily Cox
- Number of seasons: 4
- IMDb: 8.4/10
The Last Kingdom, which was created for the BBC, is now a Netflix original series with four seasons under its belt and a fifth season on the way. The show is based on Bernard Cornwell’s novel The Saxon Stories and is classified as historical fiction. It is set up over 1,000 years ago. When Uhtred reaches adulthood, he is torn between his native kingdom and his adopted family, all while being surrounded by intrigue and deceit. The Last Kingdom isn’t historically accurate. Adjustments are a must to make the tale more compelling. But the result is an epic show that definitely should be on everyone’s watchlist.
Black Mirror
- Created by: Charlie Brooker
- Cast: N/A
- Number of seasons: 5
- IMDb: 8.8/10
Charlie Brooker’s great dystopian series later developed as a “Netflix original,”. It initially aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom. The majority of the episodes focus on bleak, worst-case scenarios involving our connection with technology and our current dependency on it. This isn’t a show you’ll be able to binge-watch quickly, with five seasons to date. However, you may watch the episodes in any sequence and expect your jaw to drop at the end of each one. It’s engrossing, thought-provoking television.
The End of the F***ing World
- Created by: Charlie Covell
- Cast: Alex Lawther, Jessica Barden, Gemma Whelan
- Number of seasons: 2
- IMDb: 8.1/10
This dark comedy-drama, based on the Charles Forsman mini-comics of the same name, chronicles the lives of 17-year-old James (Alex Lawther), who believes he is a psychopath. He befriends Alyssa (Jessica Barden), a classmate who grabs on to him to get away from her difficult family situation. The series creator, Charlie Covell, has also stated that she does not intend to develop a third season. Also, check out the two eight-episode seasons that are famous for their razor-sharp mix of misanthropy and wit.
Outlander
- Created by: Ronald D. Moore
- Cast: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies
- Number of seasons: 4
- IMDb: 8.4/10
The British know how to tell a good love tale, and this adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s renowned fantasy-romance novel has had swooning audiences enthralled for years. The plot involves a married British battle nurse as she travels from World War II to 1743 Scotland, where she meets and also falls in love with a Scottish warrior. The crossed lovers, torn between two worlds, must shoulder the weight of centuries between them.
Life in Color with David Attenborough
- Created by: Colette Beaudry (executive producer)
- Cast: David Attenborough
- Number of seasons: 1
- IMDb: 8.3/10
Even though David Attenborough is now in his mid-90s, he shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to delivering awe-inspiring wildlife films. Also, his most recent book, Life in Color, looks at how animals utilize color to navigate their own environments. The bursts of brilliant hues throughout the series produce stunning and lasting images, which is also unsurprising. Several camera technologies were created particularly for the series to give viewers with additional visual assistance when viewing color in a new way. The presentation is eerily similar to Planet Earth, but with a stronger technical focus and a less overt environmental theme – the images do a good job of conveying that message.