What do Cillian Murphy and David Tennant have in common? Besides being total babes, obvi, they’re some of the main reasons why British crime dramas (a v important subdivision of British dramas) have been our go-to genre when it comes finding which show to binge next. The genre surged in popularity in the U.S. over the past few years, thanks in part to fan-favorite series Peaky Blinders. Luckily for us, that was just the tip of the iceberg, as sooooo many bloody-good British crime dramas have become available to stream nowadays. (You’ve probably heard of Bodyguard starring Richard Madden, but if you haven’t, you can thank me later for introducing you two.)
Although we love a beautiful, emotionally-reserved male lead with a sexy posh accent just like the next person, there’s so much more that makes the British genre a must-watch. The shows are genuinely well-written, packed with smart dialogue, and typically have multi-dimensional, gripping plot lines. And whether the genre is still somewhat foreign to you or you’ve already made it across the pond and want more proper crime to queue up, you should know that Netflix has a badass lineup of British TV crime shows. There’s a lil something for everyone, from “catch the serial killer” to “unravel that decades-old mystery,” sometimes in the same show. Just don’t blame me when you start using some good ol’ British banter and become a Sherlock Holmes in your everyday life.
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1. Inside Man
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Although only four episodes, Inside Man will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Not only do you get to absolutely fan girl over Stanley Tucci, but it lets you see how life can easily be turned upside down with just one interaction. See how a prisoner on death row and a woman trapped in a cellar under an English vicarage cross paths in the most unexpected of ways.
2. Anatomy of a Scandal
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This mini-series is just six episodes, so you’ll really have to savor it (if you can resist the urge to blow right through it in one sitting, that is). After the wife of a British Member of Parliament (Sienna Miller) finds out a scandalous secret about her husband, she’s left trying to keep her life together as he stands trial. Oh! And Michelle Dockery, who you might recognize as Lady Mary from Downton Abbey, plays the prosecutor, so the cast is A+.
3. Behind Her Eyes
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If you prefer your British crime shows with a psychological thriller and supernatural elements thrown in, then Behind Her Eyes is probably right up your alley. It’s about Louise, a single mother, who starts an affair with her new boss aaaaand also becomes friends with his wife, which, yes, already sounds incredibly messy. On top of that, she soon finds herself caught up in a very dangerous (and deadly) web of secrets.
4. The Serpent
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Based on the very real crimes of serial killer Charles “the Serpent” Sobhraj, this eight-episode series largely takes place in Thailand (with some scenes in India and France, too), BUT it’s a BBC show with a cast full of British actors, so it still makes the cut. It retells the Serpent’s terrifying crimes, as well as the story of diplomat-turned-detective Herman Knippenberg, who helped track him down.
5. Traitors
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Picture this: It’s 1945 in London, WWII has just ended, and you, a lowly civil servant, are approached by an American agent who wants you to spy on the British government to root out any Russian infiltration. Well, that’s what happens to Feef Symonds, and she ends up agreeing to it. Regular crime shows are great and all, but there’s something extra interesting about espionage-related crimes, ya feel?
6. You Don’t Know Me
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When a man is accused of murdering a drug dealer and all of the evidence is screaming that he did it, he decides to fire his lawyer (!?) and use the closing argument at his own murder trial to tell his side of the story. He’s adamant that he’s innocent, but as we all know, it really comes down to what the jury believes.
7. Requiem
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This six-part series has it all: crime, supernatural thrills, and that top-notch BBC production quality. The story goes like this: when the mother of an accomplished cellist dies by suicide, her daughter finds an unusual link between the death and the disappearance of a young girl more than 20 years ago.
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8. The End of the F***ing World
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Where my dark comedy lovers at? This one is right up your alley. Seventeen-year-olds Alyssa and James set out to find Alyssa’s estranged father. James (a self-diagnosed psychopath) has already killed animals and thinks he needs to move onto something bigger…and he’s got something (er, someone) in mind… I think you can see where this is going.
9. Get Even
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A group of girls at an elite private school form a club with the purpose of getting back at their bullies, and they call it DGM (short for Don’t Get Mad). But when one of their targets is murdered and found holding a note that says DGM, they realize someone’s REALLY got it out for them, to the point of trying to frame them for murder.
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10. Kiss Me First
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The show jumps between the real world and an animated VR world, so it never gets boring. It follows the story of Leila, who comes across a secret paradise hidden in one of her favorite games. But as these things seem to go, Leila realizes it may not be so perfect when her friend from the game goes missing. Dun dun dunnnnnn.
11. Bodyguard
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The much-loved first season features Richard Madden as protection officer David Budd, a war veteran who is assigned to a security detail for a conservative parliament member (Keeley Hawes). I don’t need to tell you, but the twisty intrigue and sexy chemistry are both ~really good~ here. There’s been widespread discussion of a second season, which I would like immediately, please and thank you.
12. Stay Close
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A picture perfect soccer mom (Cush Jumbo) has a bunch of dark secrets, and they all come out when a serial killer starts killing again (Richard Armitage is in this one, too, if you’re a fan). This one’s based on a book, if you love crime novels—but be aware the show kinda modified the ending, so you’re technically getting two dramas in one.
13. The Stranger
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When a total stranger confronts Adam Price and reveals a secret about his wife, it sends him spiraling down a rabbit hole as he tries to uncover the truth. Intrigue!!
14. The One
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If you love your British crime with a side of sci-fi (or even if you don’t), this show is a must-watch. When a DNA researcher believes she’s found a way to genetically match you with your perfect partner, she sets up a matchmaking service to help pair people off with their soul mates. Everything seems super exciting and great, until someone turns up dead.
15. The Irregulars
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Any fans of Sherlock Holmes (aka the OG British crime god) will love this show, since it’s a totally new take on the classic Sherlock tales. It’s about a ragtag group of teens in Victorian England who come together to help a sinister Dr. Watson and his mysterious partner Sherlock Holmes solve supernatural crimes.
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16. Top Boy
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Out in London’s East End, the drug trade isn’t exactly hidden. And Ra’Nell, whose mother was just admitted to a mental hospital and whose father died after Ra’Nell killed him, is figuring out how to navigate it all.
17. Criminal
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Criminal is a Netflix original series that hyper-focuses on police interrogations, each set in a different country: France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With only three episodes in each season, it’s super snackable, and each time, you get to witness three different perspectives: inside the police interrogation room, what happens behind the one-way mirror and, finally, the area outside the two rooms. Fair warning: This one will utterly mind-f*ck you.
18. Safe
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A heartbreaking drama-slash-thriller about a dad whose daughter disappears in what is supposed to be a gated, secure neighborhood. As he desperately searches for her, he begins to realize that what he thought was safe is far from it. This is the kind of show that’ll make you question whether your roommate is actually your friend or some unhinged person trying to get close to you so they can kill your entire family.
19. Peaky Blinders
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I know what you’re thinking so I’ll just come right out and say yes, this show 100 percent lives up to all the hype (and falls under “crime” even if said crime is old-timey). Peaky Blinders will go down in history as one of the greatest things to come out of England, right next to David Beckham and the dress Pippa Middleton wore to Kate and Will’s wedding. If you haven’t heard of Peaky Blinders—either the show or the viral haircut trend—then please leave your bunker and start watching it ASAP.
20. White Lines
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Okay, so this show is both completely wild and completely thrilling. An English woman heads down to Ibiza to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her brother. White Lines is for anyone who likes murder mixed with sex, drugs, and partying. Pure escapism.
21. Giri/Haji
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Giri/Haji follows a Tokyo policeman who travels to London to find a wanted murderer who also happens to be his brother. The Japanese-English series is a cross-cultural story that combines cops and family drama in a seriously thrilling show.
22. Marcella
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If you plow through this list in order and loved The Fall, you’ll have no problem getting addicted to Marcella Backland and company. It’s another cat-and-mouse formula only with more baggage and blackouts that make it hard to separate reality from what’s going on inside Marcella’s head.
23. Paranoid
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Fans of Ellaria Sand in Game of Thrones can breathe a sigh of relief: There is life beyond Dorne, and that life exists in the fictional town of Woodmere. Actress Indira Varma plays Detective Sergeant Nina Suresh, who is tasked with solving the murder of a physician found stabbed in a playground.
24. Collateral
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Clear your schedule (who even has better plans anyway?) and binge Collateral: a four-part series centering on the murder of a pizza delivery driver in London. Mulligan is Kip Glaspie, an Olympic pole vaulter-turned detective. Yep, you read that right.
Hunter Levitan is a freelance journalist specializing in fashion, style, culture, sex, and wellness stories, as well as a writer/poet, photographer, and mixed media brand consultant. Her work has appeared in Who What Wear, Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health Magazine, and The Improper Bostonian, among others. She is a graduate of New York University and lives in New York City.
Associate Editor
Chaise Sanders is an Associate Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers anything from lifestyle and beauty to entertainment and style. Wanna upgrade your skincare game? She’s got you covered with the best facial cleansing brushes. Or maybe you’re in need of a new true crime show to binge? Got that covered too! Prior to joining the Cosmo team, Chaise was an editor at Country Living (also part of the Hearst fam) where she interviewed celebs like Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes and even Martha Stewart. Now, as one of the Big Apple’s newest residents, there’s a good chance that you can catch her checking out an Insta-worthy cafe or spending way to much $$$ in vintage stores.
Laura is a NYC-based freelance writer. When she’s not binging the latest true crime docu-series, she’s obsessing over all things Harry Styles, RHONY, and John Mulaney. You can follow her on Instagram @lauraehanrahan
