64 British series for learning English

VidiomLang
8 min readJul 25, 2023

Watching British TV series is a fantastic way to improve your English language skills, as they often offer a diverse range of accents, colloquialisms, and everyday language usage. Here are some popular British series that can be helpful for learning English:

Sherlock

1. “Sherlock”

A modern-day adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective stories, following the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal friend, Dr. John Watson, as they solve complex crimes in London.

2. “Downton Abbey”

A historical drama set in the early 20th century, revolving around the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants on the Downton Abbey estate.

3. “The Crown”

A biographical drama that chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the events that shaped the second half of the 20th century.

4. “Doctor Who”

A long-running science fiction series featuring the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a time-traveling spaceship.

5. “Black Mirror”

An anthology series that explores the dark and often dystopian aspects of modern society and technology

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6. “Fleabag”

A comedy-drama series created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, focusing on the life and struggles of a young woman living in London.

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7. “The IT Crowd”

A sitcom revolving around the comical misadventures of the IT department employees at a fictional British corporation.

8. “Call the Midwife”

A period drama set in the 1950s and 1960s, depicting the lives of midwives working in the impoverished East End of London.

9. “Broadchurch”

A crime drama series set in a coastal town, following detectives as they investigate various criminal cases and deal with their personal issues.

The Office (UK)

10. “The Office” (UK)

A mockumentary-style sitcom set in a mundane office environment, following the lives of office employees and their quirky boss, David Brent.

11. “Luther”

A gripping crime drama featuring DCI John Luther as he solves complex cases while battling his own personal demons in London.

12. “Skins”

A coming-of-age drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, exploring various social and personal issues faced by young people.

13. “Outlander”

A historical fantasy drama that involves time travel and follows the life of Claire Randall, a World War II nurse who finds herself transported to 18th-century Scotland.

14. “Misfits”

A sci-fi comedy-drama about a group of young offenders who gain superpowers following an electrical storm in London.

15. “Merlin”

A fantasy-adventure series that reimagines the legend of King Arthur and follows the young wizard Merlin’s journey in the mythical kingdom of Camelot.

16. “The Inbetweeners”

A hilarious sitcom that depicts the lives of four socially awkward teenagers navigating adolescence and high school in suburban England.

17. “Being Human” (UK)

A supernatural drama about a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost living together as flatmates in Bristol, attempting to lead normal lives despite their supernatural natures.

18. “Line of Duty”

A thrilling police procedural series focusing on a team of anti-corruption officers investigating fellow police officers in the fictional city of Central England.

19. “The Fall”

A psychological thriller that follows a detective superintendent and a serial killer as their paths intertwine during a Belfast murder investigation.

Sherlock Holmes (1984–1994)

20. “Sherlock Holmes” (1984–1994)

A classic adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective stories, starring Jeremy Brett as the iconic Sherlock Holmes.

21. “Victoria”

A historical drama series that chronicles the early reign of Queen Victoria, exploring her personal life and the challenges she faced as a young monarch.

22. “The Great British Bake Off”

A popular reality competition show where amateur bakers compete in a series of challenges to impress the judges with their baking skills.

23. “The Night Manager”

A gripping espionage thriller based on John le Carré’s novel, featuring a former British soldier who infiltrates the inner circle of an arms dealer.

24. “Midsomer Murders”

A long-running detective drama set in the picturesque English county of Midsomer, featuring complex murder mysteries.

25. “The Thick of It”

A satirical political sitcom that humorously portrays the inner workings of the British government and its bureaucrats.

26. “Prime Suspect”

A crime drama series starring Helen Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, known for her tenacity in solving difficult cases.

27. “Gavin & Stacey”

A heartwarming sitcom that follows the romantic relationship between Gavin from Essex and Stacey from Wales, along with their quirky friends and family.

28. “Sherlock Gnomes”

An animated film that can be great for learners as it features British accents and colloquial language used by the gnome characters.

29. “Blackadder”

A historical sitcom that spans different periods of British history, starring Rowan Atkinson as the cunning Edmund Blackadder.

30. “The Great British Sewing Bee”

A reality competition show where amateur sewers showcase their sewing skills through various challenges.

31. “Last Tango in Halifax”

A heartwarming drama about two widowed childhood sweethearts who reunite in their 70s and attempt to rekindle their relationship.

32. “The IT Crowd”

A sitcom revolving around the comical misadventures of the IT department employees at a fictional British corporation.

Doctor Foster

33. “Doctor Foster”

A gripping drama about a woman who becomes suspicious of her husband’s infidelity and the subsequent unraveling of their lives.

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34. “Doc Martin”

A comedy-drama series about a successful London surgeon who relocates to a small coastal village to become a general practitioner.

35. “Poldark”

A historical drama based on Winston Graham’s novels, following the life of Ross Poldark in 18th-century Cornwall, England.

36. “The Durrells”

A delightful drama-comedy inspired by Gerald Durrell’s autobiographical books, portraying an English family’s life on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930s.

37. “The Vicar of Dibley”

A sitcom centered around the eccentric female vicar, Geraldine Granger, and her interactions with the quirky residents of the small village of Dibley.

38. “Docudrama”

A drama-documentary series that recreates historical events with actors and interviews with experts, providing an educational and engaging experience.

39. “The Apprentice” (UK)

A reality competition show where aspiring entrepreneurs compete in business tasks to impress Lord Alan Sugar and win a lucrative investment.

40. “Keeping Up Appearances”

A classic sitcom featuring the comical endeavors of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced “Bouquet”), who is obsessed with social climbing and maintaining appearances.

41. “The Mighty Boosh”

A surreal comedy series starring Noel Fielding and Julian Barratt, featuring bizarre adventures and quirky characters.

Poirot

42. “Poirot”

A detective drama based on Agatha Christie’s famous detective, Hercule Poirot, as he solves intricate murder mysteries.

43. “Detectorists”

A gentle comedy about two friends who share a passion for metal detecting and their amusing encounters with the locals in the English countryside.

44. “Silent Witness”

A crime drama series that follows a team of forensic pathologists as they investigate complex cases and deliver justice.

45. “Upstairs, Downstairs”

A historical drama set in a London townhouse, depicting the lives of the upper-class Bellamys and their servants during the early 20th century.

46. “Inside №9”

An anthology series with standalone episodes, each exploring different and often darkly comedic stories set in various locations.

47. “The Hollow Crown”

A series of historical adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, including Richard II, Henry IV, Henry V, and Richard III.

48. “Red Dwarf”

A sci-fi sitcom that follows the adventures of the last surviving human, Dave Lister, and his eccentric crewmates on the spaceship Red Dwarf.

49. “Friday Night Dinner”

A sitcom centered around a Jewish family’s weekly Friday night dinner gatherings, filled with chaos and hilarity.

50. “Call the Midwife”

A period drama set in the 1950s and 1960s, depicting the lives of midwives working in the impoverished East End of London.

51. “Father Ted”

A sitcom about three eccentric priests living on Craggy Island and their amusing misadventures.

52. “Cold Feet”

A comedy-drama following the lives of three couples and their friendships, relationships, and personal struggles in Manchester.

53. “The Bodyguard”

A tense political thriller about a former military officer turned bodyguard who is assigned to protect a controversial politician.

54. “The Young Ones”

A classic sitcom that revolves around the lives of four students sharing a house, featuring anarchic humor and guest appearances from famous bands.

55. “The Paradise”

A period drama set in a lavish department store in the late 19th century, exploring the lives of the employees and customers.

56. “The Missing”

A gripping anthology crime drama that follows different cases of missing persons, with each season focusing on a new investigation.

57. “This Country”

A mockumentary sitcom following the lives of two cousins living in a small rural village, highlighting the humor in everyday situations.

58. “The Inbetweeners”

A comedy series that captures the awkward and hilarious experiences of four friends during their time at sixth form.

59. “Inside the Factory”

A documentary series exploring the fascinating processes behind the manufacturing of various products in British factories.

60. “Humans”

A sci-fi drama set in a world where highly advanced human-like robots, known as “synths,” are integrated into society.

Endeavour

61. “Endeavour”

A prequel to the long-running detective drama “Inspector Morse,” following a young Endeavour Morse as he starts his career in the police force.

62. “Whitechapel”

A crime drama that modernizes and investigates historical crimes, with each season focusing on different notorious cases.

63. “Absolutely Fabulous”

A hilarious sitcom centering around the lives of two eccentric and fashion-obsessed women, Edina and Patsy.

64. “The Good Karma Hospital”

A medical drama set in a coastal town in India, featuring British and Indian doctors working in a rural hospital.

These British TV series cover a wide range of genres, offering diverse language and cultural exposure for English learners. Enjoy watching and improving your language skills!

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VidiomLang

If you're tired of books and learning difficult grammar and vocabulary, then take a break and watch some movies.