10 Shows Like Downton Abbey: From High Society to Heartfelt Drama

At Dear Media, we’re no strangers to a good binge-watching sesh—whether it’s shows like Shameless or shows like Gilmore Girls, we’ve seen it all. But, if you’re anything like us, you’ve got a special place in your heart for one of the best period dramas ever made: Downton Abbey. From high society love stories to intense family feuds, this series had us HOOKED. 

Beyond the storyline, the creators of Downton Abbey nailed the lavish historical drama and period-accurate details. Oh, and we can’t forget the sumptuous costumes don’t they make you wanna go out and buy one yourself???

If you’ve been looking for a new class-divided, tea-spilling series to fill the void the Crawley family left behind, you’re in luck. Today, we’re sharing a list of shows like Downton Abbey that capture that same dramatic, aristocratic vibe. Let’s dive in! 

10 Shows Like Downton Abbey: From High Society to Heartfelt Drama

Whether you’ve binge-watched Downton Abbey too many times to count or you’re just jumping into the decadent world of period dramas, we have to revisit what this series is all about so you can get into that posh, upper-class mindset. This will help you better understand how similar these recommendations are so you can find your new favorite series. 

What Is Downton Abbey About?

Set in the early 20th century, Downton Abbey is a British period drama that follows the lives of the distinguished Crawley family and their servants. It’s not one of those slow-starting series, though. It starts with a bang as the heir to the Crawley estate, Patrick, suddenly dies on the Titanic. This leaves the family scrambling to figure out who’s next in line to take responsibility, BUT there’s a plot twist. A distant cousin shows up to claim his prize… the entire Downton Abbey estate. 

As the series unfolds, it’s clear that there’s far more at stake than family drama and inheritance issues. There’s a shift in class structure and unexpected societal changes to flip the Crawley’s world upside down. From the beginning of World War I to the outbreak of Spanish influenza and a crumbling class system, the family and their staff have to navigate a world that’s brand new to them.

Downton Abbey, though set in an older time period, doesn’t just focus on historically accurate events. It’s packed with love stories, betrayals, and the kind of juicy drama that keeps you hooked after each episode. If you’re craving more, we’ve got you covered. Let’s look at a handful of shows with that same Downton Abbey vibe! 

What Shows Are Like Downton Abbey?

The Crown

Where to watch: Netflix

Set in 20th-century Britain, The Crown follows Queen Elizabeth II as she unexpectedly inherits the throne at just 25 years old following her father’s death. We watch Queen Elizabeth II explore her personal life outside of her title, her relationships with world leaders, and the challenges she faces as a monarch of England. 

It’s like you’re stepping into Buckingham Palace without leaving the comfort of your own bed. Like Downton Abbey, there’s a heavy focus on class, status, and family dynamics. After watching this, you’ll have a totally newfound respect for Queen Elizabeth II. And, if the Queen listens to podcasts, we have no doubt this episode of Let’s Try This Again is in her recents.

Victoria

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Focusing on Queen Elizabeth II’s great-great-grandmother, Victoria is another British historical drama that gives us the inside scoop on a young Queen Victoria’s life. This series explores her ascent to the throne at 18, her marriage to Prince Albert, and her challenges as a new, young monarch.

It’s not just about watching Victoria figure out the footing of ruling an empire. She has to learn how to navigate being a queen, wife, mother, and her own person. And, it’s HARD to navigate it all she could’ve definitely benefitted from this episode of Raising Good Humans. Like Downton Abbey, this Victorian-era show dives deep into historical events, royalty, and some romantic tension ooh la la!

White Queen

Where to watch: Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Okay, White Queen only has 1 season (we know, bummer), but it’s a total banger you need to check out. During the Wars of Roses, 15th-century England was in risky territory as both men and women fought to secure the throne. More specifically, three women compete against each other for all the control. 

Elizabeth Woodville (a commoner) marries King Edward IV and gives us all the love, rivalry, and betrayal we ever wanted in a historical drama. If you’re missing out on that high-stakes tension from Downton Abbey, get excited to fully immerse yourself into White Queen.

The Gilded Age

Where to watch: Max, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

We aren’t only obsessed with The Gilded Age because of its ICONIC cast (though that’s def part of it); we love that old money versus new money type of vibe. Set in 1880s New York City, Marion Brook moves in with her wealthy aunts after her father dies. But with her aunts basking in old family money and their neighbors stepping into “new money” as working-class railroad tycoons, there’s a liiittllee bit of a rivalry going on. 

If you’re looking for drama-filled conflict, historical context, and luxurious, up-scale settings, The Gilded Age needs to be on your watch list. 

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries 

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Set in the 1920s, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries follows the sharp-witted Phryne Fisher, a private detective in Melbourne, Australia. Not only is she a total boss at solving complex and dangerous cases, but she does so all while navigating the rigid social norms of the time. If you wanna step into your “Phryne Fisher” era, listen to this episode of Transform it’s allll about building strength and confidence. 

Similarly to Downton Abbey, this series captures the same lavish and elegant lifestyle while exploring class divisions and tension between the elite. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a period drama without the stunning costumes and detailed settings, right?

Upstairs Downstairs

Where to watch: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video

Another series set in the early-to-mid 20th century, Upstairs Downstairs shows the lives of the aristocratic family, the Bellamys (upstairs), and the lives of their servants (downstairs) as they share a grand London townhouse. 

As you can imagine, the lives of those upstairs and those downstairs are drastically different. While one group is focused on the decline of the aristocracy of London, the other group is more worried about their duties, loyalty, and desires for change. It’s binge-worthy, for sure. 

Call the Midwife

Where to watch: Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video

If you’re a fan of super long-running period dramas, get ready for all 15 seasons of Call the Midwife to keep you hooked. This series is set in the 1950s and focuses on a group of midwives, particularly Nurse Jenny Lee, working in poor, working-class London. 

Fun fact: this series is actually based on memoirs of the real-life Jennifer Worth kinda makes you want to watch it even more! It dives into societal shifts, poverty, and women’s empowerment. So, not totally like the posh environment of Downton Abbey, but it shows what life is like for those on the other end of the spectrum. 

Mr. Selfridge

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Based on the real life story of Mr. Harry Gordon Selfridge, the show follows him as he arrives in Britain from Chicago with one goal in mind: to open Selfridges & Co. department stores across London and transform the retail world. While he did succeed, there’s much more to running an empire than Selfridge thought. 

Mr. Selfridge gives us an inside look into the business world, social dynamics, and various class struggles of the time period. Similar to Downton Abbey, World War I and the cultural shifts had a massive impact on society. Want to know what happens? Watch to find out!

North and South

Where to watch: Peacock. Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV

Set in the Victorian era, North and South follows Margaret Hale as she moves from southern England to the more industrial northern town of Milton. While there, she meets mill owner John Thorton and has to navigate the tension between the wealthy and working class. But the real question is, do opposites attract? Guess ya gotta see for yourself!

This show does cover a handful of pretty serious topics, but what period drama doesn’t? If you’re looking for class conflict, social change, and a ton of tension-filled romance, North and South won’t leave you disappointed. 

The Tudors

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Paramount+, Apple TV

If you have a soft spot for the Tudor era, what better show to immerse yourself in than The Tudors? This series follows King Henry VIII, his six marriages (hey, we don’t judge!), and all the problematic issues during his reign. Like, hello, the break-up with the Catholic Church? Not the kind of break-up drama we’re used to, but just as juicy. 

With scandalous drama and a deep dive into the world of monarchy, it revisits all those same topics that Downton Abbey introduced us to. 

Movies Like Downton Abbey

You thought we were just covering TV shows? When there are so many good MOVIES like Downton Abbey? Not a chance. If you want to totally immerse yourself in that early 1900s culture, we’ve got the perfect line-up of movies that are guaranteed to become instant favorites:

Gosford Park

Gosford Park follows a group of aristocrats (and their valets and maids, of course), as they join together for a weekend shooting party. What is a shooting party, you might ask? Exactly what it sounds like—a multi-day social event where wealthy estate owners gathered and hunted. Everything’s going just as planned, until… the HOST is murdered! Following this, the investigation unveils all of the dark hidden secrets that the guests and their servants shared.

Aside from both Gosford Park and Downton Abbey being written by Julian Fellowes, both period dramas are set in grand English environments and focus on strict social hierarchies. It’s a natural must-watch for fans of detailed storylines, intersected lives, and sharp-witted aristocrats.

The Remains of the Day

An English butler, Stevens, is on a road trip across the countryside, when he begins doing a little self-reflection. He begins thinking about his job to former employer, Lord Darlington, who was a huge contributor to pre-WWII Nazi conciliation. (Yikes.) But that’s not all. He also begins to reflect on the sacrifices, both personal and familial, he made along the way. The movie follows Stevens as he focuses on key themes like the cost of loyalty, regret, missed love, and political blindness.

Like Downton Abbey, The Remains of the Day is a British period drama that showcases that strict, often unspoken dynamic between the “upstairs” and “downstairs” dynamics. Ultimately, it asks a similar question that many themes in Downton Abbey channel: what are you willing to give up when duty and personal happiness are at odds?

To Walk Invisible

To Walk Invisible follows Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë as they overcome restrictions set by society and secretly publish their renowned novels, like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. At the same time, they also have to navigate their brother’s alcoholism and drug addiction, which ultimately impact their professional and creative lives.

And here’s the best part: it’s based on a TRUE story! In fact, most viewers praise the movie for not romanticizing the hardships of being a successful, driven woman in early 19th century England. Similar to Downton Abbey, this period drama film focuses heavily on status, societal divides, and the harsh realities of life back then.

What to Watch After Downtown Abbey

So we’ve given you TV shows LIKE Downton Abbey, and we’ve provided movies that have that same sort of vibe. But what do you watch if you’ve JUST finished the series and need to fill that 19th-century-shaped hole in your heart? Let’s talk about it.

Downton Abbey (2019)

This historical drama picks up right where you left it in the TV series. In Downton Abbey (film), the Crawley family has to prepare for the upcoming visit of King George V and Queen Mary. But rather than the Downton servants preparing, the King and Queen’s royal staff takes over duties. As a result, the upstairs has to navigate scandal, romance, and disputes with a member of the Queen’s entourage, while the downstairs fights to reclaim their roles. Oh, and did we mention there’s an assassination attempt on the King? It’s SUCH a good watch—especially for fans who are craving more Crawley family chaos.

Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

Set in 1928, Downton Abbey: A New Era follows the Crawley family as they embark on a journey to the south of France after an unexpected inheritance turns their world upside down. But there’s a twist: a Hollywood film crew is also paying to shoot a silent movie at the Crawley estate. So, while half of the family travels to France, Lady Mary stays behind to oversee production. In France, they’re investigating the mystery of Violet’s new villa. At home, Lady Mary is sent into a total frenzy to help finish the movie. It’s chaotic, to say the least. PLUS, we get introduced to new romances, marriage proposals, and career changes! It’s seriously 10/10.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

As the last cinematic installment, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale follows the Crawley family into the 1930s across three different central storylines. First, Lady Mary is newly divorced, which naturally completely derails her status in society. On top of that, Gus Sambrook, is attempting to defraud the Levinson/Downton fortune. As if Lady Mary wasn’t dealing with enough, right?

However, that’s not all that’s happening. Cora’s brother, Harold Levinson, comes back to England with the goal of managing his investments. But when his family faces financial crisis, he’s left with no other choice but to sell Grantham House in London, helping secure Downton and renovate cottages. And the staff? They’re dealing with their own drama. After Mrs. Patmore retired, Daisy becomes the head cook, Mr. Carson struggles with retirement, Andy steps in as the new butler, and Thomas leaves Downton to start a new Hollywood-sparkled future.

It’s a beautiful ode to the end of an era—one that definitely deserves a watch if you haven’t seen it yet.

You’ve got SO many period dramas like “Downton Abbey” to choose from. Which one are you watching first? 

We all have that one comfort show that we can’t help but rewatch for the billionth time, and for many of us, it’s Downton Abbey. But why not throw a new series into your lineup? All of these recommendations feature that same opulent, luxurious, “risk-it-or-win-it-all” type of vibe. Do yourself a favor and put these on your watch list ASAP. 

Check out the Dear Media blog for more series recommendations, as well as advice on anything from health and wellness to relationships. And, don’t forget to check out the DM shop for tons of must-have products! Nothing sounds cozier than bundling up in your “In the Clouds” PJ Set or “Valley Girl Bath Robe” and starting on one of these new shows. You deserve it!