There are plenty oftelevision showsset in the City of London in England, ranging from the funniest of stories to narratives too dark and chilling to comprehend. Often filmed on location in the capital city and featuring UK-based actors, dramas often feel gritty and authentic, while comedies feel witty and well-written. Although some British dramas consist of a few one-hour episodes and limited series, the quality of all aspects of the production process is often incredibly high and received well by viewers.
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The TV shows featured in this article were all released fairly recently and achieved plenty of positive critical acclaim. Not only are they cleverly written, but they have great production value that is characteristic of many London-based shows.
10Bridgerton (2020 - )
Being a standout series in this list due to being produced by an American company, Shondaland, Simon and Daphne’s explicit and electric story captured the hearts and minds of millions of Netflixviewers during the pandemic. With season two enjoying just as much success, despite a narrative change, it is clear that theglamour and gossip of Regency EnglandthatBridgertonaffords viewers an enjoyable experience.
With the bulk of the show being filmed in Greenwich, South East London, filming also included other English locations such as Somerset and Bath in the west of England. With season three officially on the way,Bridgerton’saudience can surely expect to see plenty more of London.
9The Capture (2019 - )
A deeply unsettling BBC drama sees Detective Rachel Cleary as she investigates cases surrounding the issues of deep fakes, misinformation, alternative facts, and increasing surveillance and CCTV. It feels authentic, yet asks questions of the viewer throughout both series, making them wonder if they can truly believe what they are seeing in front of them.
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This is a show that gets better as it progresses, with Rachel being asked more questions as she falls deeper into her search. With a superb cast and absolutely killer cinematography that highlights the many twists and turns of thedark narrative, it is well worth the watch.
8Motherland (2016 - )
Sharing the lives of middle-class West London mothers and their antics,Motherlandis a British TV sitcom that uses comedy to play with the issues that these mothers encounter in their everyday lives. Deeply honest and funny in equal measures, the main character Julia (Anna Maxwell Martin) interacts with other mothers at her children’s school, and together they navigate the trials and tribulations of motherhood.
Despite the privilege and affluence that the majority of its characters have,Motherlandis an incredibly self-aware show that pokes fun at middle-class London society. Filmed around West London, the show feels familiar and incredibly realistic for UK viewers in particular. With a Christmas Special episode set to air in December 2022, viewers should expect a treat.
7Call The Midwife (2012 - )
Ten years in andCall the Midwifeis asfresh and as fearless as everas it continues to share the realities of midwives in Poplar, the East End area of London. Initially handling the challenges of post-war society in the UK, the show has evolved to muse on the 1950s and ‘Swinging 60s’, immense advancements in science and technology, and a wide variety of contemporary fertility and family debates.
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With an ever-evolving cast, along with some long-serving beloved characters, the heart of the show remains the same. Despite plenty of social, political, and personal changes, the midwives continue to deliver new life into the world in ways that are emotional for their dedicated international audience. Also back in December 2022 with a Christmas special, this incredibly moving show is worth tuning in for.
6Luther (2010 - 2019)
Idris Elba starred as Detective John Luther across five intense and invigorating seasons as he befriends a murderer he could not convict, Alice Morgan. The show itself is deeply psychological as it tracks Luther solving various crimes, alongside his rivalry and surprising companionship with Alice as she seeks to help him.
As it is very unconventional regarding its plot,Lutherremains fascinating to watch. Every episode grips the viewer and keeps them trying to guess what happens next. This show is incredibly characteristic of aBritish crime dramawith its dark and gritty feel.
5Fleabag (2016 - 2019)
Created by and starring the iconic Phoebe Waller-Bridge, her showFleabagpropelled her to stardom as she stars as her own nameless protagonist. The show follows the antics and mishaps of her everyday life as she struggles to balance work, family, and romance. Only lasting for two seasons,Fleabagis devastatingly short but continues to be a relatable series documenting the life of a woman seeking to heal herself in London.
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With a powerful cast including Sian Clifford, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott, and Brett Gelman to name a few,Fleabagremains a well-acted and beautifully crafted show. Despite only having a few episodes, Waller-Bridge’s character is deeply flawed and yet familiar.
4Sherlock (2010 - )
This iconic London detective show remains one of the most prolific UKdetective dramasfor global audiences. A powerful and poignant modern retelling of the Holmes and Watson stories, the show created by Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss consistently received high critical acclaim and one of the largest audiences that a British drama had ever seen.
Sherlock excels as a consulting detective that assists the police with a wide variety of cases with his specific and unusual knowledge and often bizarre methods. Retired army officer Watson often accompanies him and the banter between the two is an unparalleled and fascinating dynamic.Sherlockis technically not over and as rumors of a series five circulate, only time will tell to see if Sherlock’s story will be allowed to continue.
3I May Destroy You (2020)
A brilliant and brutal Britishdark comedy,I May Destroy Youwas one of the best limited series to be released in 2020 due to its candor in raising awareness of violence against women. Set in London with a predominantly black British cast, writer and producer Michaela Coel stars as protagonist Arabella, who seeks to rebuild her life after a traumatic experience.
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The show itself was the most critically acclaimed series of 2020, winning two Emmy Awards. It was mostly filmed in the London borough of Hackney, which makes the show authentic and thereby even more powerful. It is most notable for its incredible performances from Coel and costars Paapa Essiedu and Weruche Opia.
2Bodyguard (2018 - )
Fiery and unfathomable,Bodyguardis another gripping UK-based drama starring Richard Madden as Dave Budd, a war veteran assigned to protect the controversial Home Secretary portrayed by Keeley Hawes, despite disagreeing with her politics. Gripping from the start, each episode of the show gets progressively more turbulent and traumatic as Dave gets thrust into plenty of life-threatening situations.
With the show handling complex topical themes of politics, PTSD, and issues of private information, Madden’s award-winning performance is chilling and captivating as each episode handles situations that could easily become reality. With only one series having been released, it has been confirmed that series two is on the way, so viewers will have to tune in to see how the story continues to unfold.
1It’s A Sin (2021)
Written by the brilliant Russell T. Davies,It’s A Sinenamored audiences at the start of 2021 with its candid and true-to-life reality of the AIDS crisis in the city of London and across the UK and even the world. With a powerful cast and beautifully heartfelt and authentic writing, it remains one of the greatest and most impactful British shows because of its truth.
Every aspect of the miniseries from its camerawork, colors, costumes, music, and performance remains extraordinary. With parts of the script based on real events that Davies and other gay men experienced during 1980s England, it was difficult to sell to broadcasters at first, but it is all the more poignant. Its critical and commercial success proves how accurate and incredible the show is in its own right.
