10 TV Shows Like Downton Abbey That You Should Watch in the Future.
Julian Fellowes, fresh off the triumphant historical drama The Gilded Age , followed his Oscar-winning screenplay for Gosford Park with Downton Abbey , a family saga set in the upper and lower floors of a grand English estate. Beginning with the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and ending with the final (or final?) film around 1930, the series begins with the unexpected death of the castle’s heir, leaving the entire estate in the hands of a cousin no one has ever seen (Dan Stevens).
This event sets in motion a multi-part campaign to secure the family’s future amid war, dwindling finances, and the invention of swivel chairs designed to confound the feisty Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith). The series’ 2010 debut was an immediate sensation, drawing attention to the original series and spawning dozens of new ones. You can watch Downton Abbey on Prime Video and Peacock , and after you’ve binge-watched all six seasons and three movies, you’re invited to explore other intelligent yet engaging family soap operas.
Guinness House (2025 – )
This series, based on true events, is packed with high-society drama, but created by Steven Knight ( Peaky Blinders ), so expect a lot more violence and less cozy library chats. The first episode begins shortly after the death of Sir Benjamin Guinness, who became the richest man in Ireland by expanding the Guinness trade throughout the British Empire. Cracks begin to appear on the way to the funeral: religious leaders condemn the widespread beer drinking, while Irish republicans want to destroy the company for colluding with the empire. Sir Benjamin’s four heirs have wildly different goals and/or hate each other, so you get the idea—lots of drama and lots of beer. The series has been renewed for a second season.Watch “Guinness House” on Netflix .
Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975, 2010–2012)
An international phenomenon of the early 1970s that undoubtedly inspired Downton Abbey , Upstairs Downstairs has become a near-standard for smart, glossy, and sometimes scandalous period dramas. The series follows the wealthy Bellamy family of London’s fashionable Belgravia as they navigate both triumph and tragedy. At the heart of the downstairs household is maid Rose Buck, played by series co-creator and writer Jean Marsh, who returned for a new generation in 2010. The gripping drama spawned numerous high-profile dramas and, in some ways, remains unrivaled. Watch Upstairs Downstairs on Britbox ; watch the sequel to Upstairs Downstairs on Disney+ , Hulu , Peacock , and Britbox.
Bridgerton (2020–)
Shonda Rhimes’s vibrant, ultra-stylized period drama has become a sensation for Netflix. It adapts Julia Quinn’s novel series, which, like any Regency novel, owes a great deal to Jane Austen. The series features a large, ever-changing cast, led by Nicola Coughlan’s Penelope Bridgerton, ably supported by Adjoa Andoh, Jonathan Bailey, Ruth Gemmell, Polly Walker, and Julie Andrews (who voices the mysterious Lady Whistledown). The series relishes the literary tropes of the era while ramping up the intensity with sex, scandal, drama, and heart. After watching this series, you might want to check out the excellent prequel/spinoff, Queen Charlotte , also available on Netflix.Watch Bridgerton on Netflix .
The Gilded Age (2022–)
Julian Fellowes (with Sonia Warfield) makes something akin to Downton Abbey , but sets the action in 1880s New York City. We are introduced to the world of New York’s high, and then ultra- high, society through Marian Brooke (Louise Jacobson), a poor relative of the estranged aunts who have taken her in, and Peggy Scott (Dene Benton), a young black writer from a comfortable middle-class family who becomes secretary to the feisty Agnes van Rijn (Christine Baranski). Agnes and her sister, Ada (Cynthia Nixon), members of the old aristocracy, live across the street from the Russell family, a family seeking social advancement through new money (superbly led by Bertha, played by Carrie Coon); established society is reluctant to let these upstarts in—though, as we know, money talks. In some ways, the stakes are incredibly low (Bertha wants a better place at the opera! A handsome footman invents a new watch!)—so why is the series so addictive? It’s been renewed for a fourth season. Watch “The Gilded Age” on HBO Max .
Buccaneers (2023 – )
Not quite in the vein of Bridgerton in its hyper-stylization, this adaptation of Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel, set in the 1870s, takes a few liberties with costumes and music. The pirates of the title refer to the so-called “dollar princesses” of the era: Nan St. George (Kristin Froseth) and her friends—young women from upper-class American families striving for success among the British aristocracy. The Americans receive titles, and the English lords manage their often cash-strapped estates (this whole story is the basis of the TV series Downton Abbey , so it should be familiar). What begins as a mercenary soap opera for strong and spirited young women evolves into a complex hunt for true love, especially when Nan is forced to choose between the handsome duke she’s destined to marry and her best friend, who she can’t seem to stay in bed with. Watch Pirates on Apple TV .
The Other Bennet Sister (2026)
This miniseries (so far, at least) has been a huge hit on the BBC, reimagining the events of Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of the book’s much more awkward sister, Lizzie Bennet. Her ruddy complexion, penchant for grammatical correctness, and (oh my) glasses make her completely unmarriageable and unsuitable for anything other than a genteel spinster. Everything begins to change when Mary is sent alone to become a governess to the Gardiner family in London, managing to build a life and a future for herself away from her parents and siblings, who see her as nothing more than a piece of furniture. Watch “The Other Bennet Sister” on Britbox .
Victoria (2016–2019)
Although Victoria is set a couple of generations before Downton Abbey and takes place among the British royal family rather than just high society, it was born out of that other series’ popularity—it relishes the same soapy dramas, only at a slightly higher level of society. Jenna Coleman ( Doctor Who ) plays the young queen, who struggles with political rivals, family responsibilities, and a growing infatuation with a German prince (Tom Hughes). The queen’s dramas are also reflected in the fates of the palace staff, including dressers, footmen, and chefs, who are all dealing with their own issues (thank you very much) while also handling the day-to-day work of maintaining order in the royal household.Watch Victoria on Netflix and PBS Passport .
Gentleman Jack (2019–2022)
Though she was afraid to speak her name out loud, the real Anne Lister certainly had no problem putting it into words—some five million words recorded in her numerous diaries. So many, in fact, that creating this series required new transcripts of works that hadn’t been fully studied, despite being written in the 1830s. Suranne Jones plays Anne Lister, a landowner and aspiring industrialist who returns to her inherited family estate to discover that neighbors are stealing coal from her land and that Ann Walker (Sophie Rundle), the wealthy owner of the estate, is quite attractive. It’s a witty and funny series, and the use of Lister’s many diaries gives it a genuine sense of verisimilitude in its portrayal of a gay pioneer. Watch Gentleman Jack on HBO Max or buy episodes on Prime Video .
Sanditon (2019–2023)
Another interpretation of Jane Austen’s works, Sanditon is based on the author’s final, unfinished work, allowing for greater creative freedom while offering a fairly pure distillation of Austen’s gripping Regency dramas. The action is obviously set a century earlier than Downton Abbey , but the romantic and economic upheavals of British aristocratic life will feel familiar. Here, independent Charlotte Heywood (Rose Williams) decides to reinvent herself by moving to a burgeoning seaside resort town (likely based on the real-life Worthing). She discovers that commercial prospects have attracted schemers and adventurers to the area, creating a unique and vibrant social scene with all the balls and lavish costumes one would expect. Naturally, romantic complications arise when Charlotte begins to disapprove of the enterprising Parker family and finds herself in conflict with, and then growing closer to, the rambunctious youngest son, Sidney (Theo James). Watch Sanditon on PBS Passport or buy episodes on Prime Video .
The Forsyte Saga (2002–2003)
I wasn’t a huge fan of the new adaptation of John Galsworthy’s novels—thoughThe Forsyte Saga has already been renewed for two more seasons, so I guess I’m in the minority. However, I’ll remind you of the 2002 miniseries starring Damian Lewis. It begins in 1884, when the mildly scandalous engagement of one of the wealthy newly minted Forsytes is overshadowed by the revelation of a torrid affair between cousin Joylon (Rupert Graves) and a governess, setting off an incredibly complex chain of events that engulfs the family for decades. Author Galsworthy was inspired to write the books on which it’s based by his own extramarital affair, so drama is ingrained in the show’s DNA.Watch The Forsyte Saga on Netflix.