Corsets, candlelit ballrooms, sweeping country estates and slow burning romance: few things are as comforting as settling in with a beautifully made costume drama. The best period drama series transport you to another century while telling stories about love, class, ambition and family that still feel surprisingly modern.
We have gathered the best period drama series to watch now, from the classic BBC adaptations that started it all to the lavish streaming hits everyone is talking about. For each show you will find what it is about, why it stands out and, where available, a DVD, Blu-ray or the book that inspired it so you can keep the story going.
The Best Period Drama Series at a Glance
- Best Overall: Downton Abbey
- Best Jane Austen Adaptation: Pride and Prejudice (1995)
- Best Royal Drama: The Crown
- Best Romantic Escape: Bridgerton
- Best Sweeping Adventure: Poldark
- Best Heartwarming Drama: Call the Midwife
- Best Time Travel Romance: Outlander
- Best Historical Political Drama: Wolf Hall
- Best Short Watch: Sense and Sensibility (2008)
- Best Hidden Gem: North and South
- Best American Period Drama: The Gilded Age
- Best Cosy Village Drama: Cranford
The 12 Best Period Drama Series to Watch
Availability on streaming services changes often, so check your local platforms. For collectors, we have added physical editions and source novels where they are available on Amazon. Check the current price and format before you buy.
1. Downton Abbey – Best Overall
Julian Fellowes’ drama follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants from the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 into the 1920s. It ran for six series on ITV from 2010 to 2015 and was followed by feature films. Filmed largely at Highclere Castle in Hampshire, it is the gold standard for the best period drama series: witty dialogue, gorgeous costumes and characters you will miss when it ends.
2. Pride and Prejudice (1995) – Best Jane Austen Adaptation
The BBC’s six part adaptation, written by Andrew Davies and starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, is still considered by many fans the definitive version of Austen’s novel. Its faithful script, real English locations and sparkling chemistry made it a cultural event and set the tone for the costume dramas that followed. If you love it, our list of classic books by women authors is the perfect next step.
3. The Crown – Best Royal Drama
Peter Morgan’s Netflix series dramatises the reign of Queen Elizabeth II across six seasons, released from 2016 to 2023, with the cast changing as the characters age. It is a dramatisation rather than a documentary, but its high production values and attention to historical events make it one of the most acclaimed series of its kind.
- Physical edition of season four
- Covers the late 1970s and 1980s
- Award winning drama
4. Bridgerton – Best Romantic Escape
Produced by Shondaland for Netflix, Bridgerton reimagines Regency London with modern music, colour drenched costumes and a diverse cast. Each season follows a different Bridgerton sibling in search of love. The show is based on Julia Quinn’s novels, which are a joy to read between seasons.
Bridgerton: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
- Book one of the Bridgerton series
- TV tie in edition
- Basis for season one
5. Poldark – Best Sweeping Adventure
Set in Cornwall at the end of the eighteenth century, the BBC’s Poldark follows Ross Poldark as he returns from war to rebuild his family’s tin mine. It ran for five series from 2015 to 2019 and is based on Winston Graham’s novels. Dramatic cliffs, romance and rivalry make it one of the best period drama series for adventure lovers.
6. Call the Midwife – Best Heartwarming Drama
Based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, the BBC’s Call the Midwife began in 2012 and follows midwives and nuns in London’s East End from the late 1950s onward. It tackles serious social history, from poverty to healthcare reform, with great warmth.
The Complete Call the Midwife Stories by Jennifer Worth
- True stories from 1950s East London
- The memoirs behind the series
- Moving and insightful
7. Outlander – Best Time Travel Romance
Starz’s Outlander begins in 1945, when nurse Claire Randall is transported back to Scotland in 1743. Based on Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling novels, it mixes romance, Jacobite history and adventure, and has expanded with a prequel series.
- First novel in the Outlander series
- Scottish Highlands setting
- Romance with historical depth
8. Wolf Hall – Best Historical Political Drama
Mark Rylance stars as Thomas Cromwell in this BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Booker Prize winning novels about the court of Henry VIII. The first series aired in 2015, and “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light” followed in 2024. It is quiet, intelligent and beautifully lit by candlelight.
- Booker Prize winning novel
- First book of the trilogy
- Tudor court intrigue
9. Sense and Sensibility (2008) – Best Short Watch
Another Andrew Davies adaptation, this three part BBC series follows Elinor and Marianne Dashwood as they navigate love and money after their father’s death. It is an easy weekend watch and one of the best period drama series for Austen newcomers.
10. North and South – Best Hidden Gem
Based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel, this four part 2004 BBC series follows Margaret Hale as she moves from the rural south of England to an industrial northern town. Starring Daniela Denby-Ashe and Richard Armitage, it combines a slow burn romance with a fascinating look at the Industrial Revolution.
11. The Gilded Age – Best American Period Drama
Created by Julian Fellowes for HBO, The Gilded Age premiered in 2022 and follows the battle between old money and new money in 1880s New York. One of the best period drama series of recent years, it will delight fans of Downton Abbey with its opulent interiors, rivalries and costumes.
12. Cranford – Best Cosy Village Drama
Judi Dench leads an exceptional cast in this 2007 BBC series based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s stories of life in a small English town in the 1840s. Gentle humour and touching moments make it a perfect comfort watch.
Why the Best Period Drama Series Never Go Out of Style
Costume dramas have been a television staple for decades, yet each generation seems to fall in love with them all over again. There are a few reasons the best period drama series keep finding new audiences.
Escapism with substance
Grand houses and beautiful gowns offer pure escapism, but the strongest shows also explore real history. Call the Midwife looks at post war healthcare, North and South at industrial labour, and The Crown at a changing monarchy. The best period drama series entertain and educate at the same time.
Timeless themes
Love across class lines, sibling rivalry, money worries and the fight for independence are as relevant today as they were in 1813. That is why a story like Pride and Prejudice can be adapted again and again.
Craftsmanship on screen
Costume designers, set decorators and location scouts spend months recreating the past. Many of the best period drama series have won major awards for costume and production design, and fans often visit their filming locations.
Fashion inspiration
Empire waistlines, puff sleeves, corsetry and Edwardian tailoring regularly return to the runway after a hit series. Bridgerton, in particular, sparked a wave of Regency inspired fashion.
How We Chose the Best Period Drama Series
We selected these shows based on critical reception, major awards, lasting popularity and the quality of their writing, costumes and performances. We include a mix of classic BBC adaptations and modern streaming hits, and we point to source novels where they add to the experience. We have not been paid by any studio. Learn more in our editorial policy.
How to Choose Your Next Period Drama
Pick your era
Do you prefer Regency ballrooms, Victorian industry, Tudor intrigue or Edwardian country houses? The best period drama series cover very different periods, so start with the one that excites you most. The period piece genre is wide enough for every taste.
Decide how much time you have
Short series like Sense and Sensibility or North and South can be watched in a weekend. Longer shows like Downton Abbey, Call the Midwife or Outlander are ideal if you want a world to return to for months.
Choose your mood
Bridgerton and Poldark are passionate and dramatic, Cranford and Call the Midwife are warm and gentle, while Wolf Hall and The Crown are serious and political.
Read the book first or after
Many of the best period drama series are adaptations. Reading the novel adds depth, and our guide to the best romance novels has more ideas if you love the love stories most.
Tips for the Perfect Period Drama Night
- Brew a proper pot of tea: Earl Grey and a slice of cake feel right with any Austen adaptation.
- Get cosy: A soft throw makes long binges even better. See our edit of the best throw blankets.
- Turn on subtitles: Older dialogue and regional accents are easier to follow.
- Watch with friends: Period dramas are perfect for weekly watch parties and lively debates about who should marry whom.
FAQ
What are the best period drama series for beginners?
Downton Abbey and Bridgerton are the easiest places to start. Both are accessible, entertaining and full of romance and family drama.
Which period drama is most historically accurate?
Wolf Hall is widely praised for its attention to detail, from candlelit interiors to Tudor politics. Remember that all dramas take some creative liberties.
What should I watch after Downton Abbey?
Try The Gilded Age, also created by Julian Fellowes, or Cranford and North and South for more English social history.
Are period dramas based on books?
Many are. Pride and Prejudice, Poldark, Outlander, Bridgerton, Wolf Hall and North and South are all adapted from novels, while Call the Midwife is based on memoirs.
Final Thoughts on the Best Period Drama Series
The best period drama series offer more than pretty costumes. They let us explore history through the eyes of characters we care about, from the Crawleys’ servants’ hall to the Tudor court. Whether you want swoon worthy romance, sharp political intrigue or gentle comfort viewing, there is a show on this list to fill your next free evening.
Love screen style? Explore our list of the best fashion movies, or read the true romances behind the crowns in our feature on royal love stories.
