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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/British TV Shows/British Action & Adventure TV Shows

    British Action & Adventure TV Shows

    The 40 most popular british action & adventure TV shows, ranked. Click any show for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.

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    The Last Kingdom
    TMDB4.1

    The Last Kingdom

    2015 · UK

    A show of heroic deeds and epic battles with a thematic depth that embraces politics, religion, warfare, courage, love, loyalty and our universal search for identity. Combining real historical figures and events with fictional characters, it is the story of how a people combined their strength under one of the most iconic kings of history in order to reclaim their land for themselves and build a place they call home.

    Doctor Who
    TMDB3.8

    Doctor Who

    2005 · UK

    The Doctor is a Time Lord: a 900 year old alien with 2 hearts, part of a gifted civilization who mastered time travel. The Doctor saves planets for a living—more of a hobby actually, and the Doctor's very, very good at it.

    Garth Marenghi's Darkplace
    TMDB4.0

    Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

    2004 · UK

    When the Hellmouth opens beneath Darkplace Hospital in downtown Romford, kiddy doctor, Vietnam veteran and ex-warlock Dr. Rick Dagless M.D. is the only man who can close it. Joined by best buddy Dr. Lucien Sanchez, fiery hospital boss Thornton Reed, and woman Liz Asher, Dagless must fight the forces of Darkness while dealing with the burden of day-to-day admin. From the chilling pen of best-selling horror writer Garth Marenghi comes this lost masterpiece of televisual terror. Dare you enter Garth's Darkplace?

    Doctor Who
    TMDB4.0

    Doctor Who

    1963 · UK

    The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, The Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help ordinary people, and right many wrongs.

    The Avengers
    TMDB3.9

    The Avengers

    1961 · UK

    A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners. Jonathan Steed - an urbane, proper gentleman spy - teams with various assistants throughout the series' run, including Dr. David Keel, Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King, to repeatedly save the world from diabolical schemes plotted by equally diabolical evil-doers (among them robots and man-eating monsters).

    Battlestar Galactica
    TMDB4.1

    Battlestar Galactica

    2004 · CA

    When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.

    Emergency!
    TMDB4.0

    Emergency!

    1972 · US

    The crew of Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 51, particularly the paramedic team, and Rampart Hospital respond to emergencies in their operating area.

    Ben 10
    TMDB2.9

    Ben 10

    2016 · UK

    With the fifth offshoot of the "Ben 10" franchise, the animated series returns to its roots and its original name, bringing 10-year-old Benjamin "Ben" Tennyson, his cousin Gwen, and Grandpa Max back to life on a new summer vacation journey. As in the original, the stories in the remake of the series also spin around an alien wristwatch called "the Omnitrix," with the help of Ben can turn into ten different aliens, which come up with different supernatural powers. He fights enemy aliens and experiences with his grandfather and cousin the most exciting vacation imaginable.

    Spooks
    TMDB3.9

    Spooks

    2002 · UK

    Tense drama series about the different challenges faced by the British Security Service as they work against the clock to safeguard the nation. The title is a popular colloquialism for spies, and the series follows the work of a group of MI5 officers based at the service's Thames House headquarters, in a highly secure suite of offices known as The Grid.

    Merlin
    TMDB3.9

    Merlin

    2008 · UK

    The unlikely friendship between Merlin, a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers, and Prince Arthur, heir to the crown of Camelot.

    Minder
    TMDB3.6

    Minder

    1979 · UK

    Roguish comedy drama following the misadventures of small-time crook Arthur Daley.

    Octonauts
    TMDB3.5

    Octonauts

    2010 · UK

    Follows an underwater exploring crew made up of stylized anthropomorphic animals, a team of eight adventurers who live in an undersea base, the Octopod, from where they go on undersea adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles.

    Strike Back
    TMDB3.7

    Strike Back

    2010 · UK

    The series follows John Porter, a former British Special Forces soldier, who is drafted back into service by Section 20, a fictional branch of the Secret Intelligence Service.

    The Saint
    TMDB3.7

    The Saint

    1962 · UK

    Simon Templar is The Saint, a handsome, sophisticated, debonair, modern-day Robin Hood who recovers ill-gotten wealth and redistributes it to those in need.

    His Dark Materials
    TMDB3.9

    His Dark Materials

    2019 · UK

    Lyra is an orphan who lives in a parallel universe in which science, theology and magic are entwined. Her search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and turns into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. She is later joined on her journey by Will, a boy who possesses a knife that can cut windows between worlds. As she learns the truth about her parents and her prophesied destiny, the two young people are caught up in a war against celestial powers that ranges across many worlds.

    The Adventures of Robin Hood
    TMDB3.2

    The Adventures of Robin Hood

    1955 · UK

    The legendary character Robin Hood and his band of merry men in Sherwood Forest and the surrounding vicinity. While some episodes dramatised the traditional Robin Hood tales, most episodes were original dramas created by the show's writers and producers.

    The Day of the Jackal
    TMDB4.1

    The Day of the Jackal

    2024 · UK

    An unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.

    The Professionals
    TMDB3.8

    The Professionals

    1977 · UK

    The lives of Bodie and Doyle, top agents for Britain's CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5), and their controller, George Cowley. The mandate of CI5 was to fight terrorism and similar high-profile crimes. Cowley, a hard ex-MI5 operative, hand-picked each of his men. Bodie is a cynical ex-SAS paratrooper and mercenary whose nature ran to controlled violence, while his partner, Doyle, comes to CI5 from the regular police force, and is more of an open minded liberal. Their relationship is often contentious, but they are the top men in their field, and the ones to whom Cowley always assigned to the toughest cases.

    Torchwood
    TMDB3.6

    Torchwood

    2006 · UK

    The exploits of a team of people whose job is to investigate the unusual, the strange and the extraterrestrial.

    PJ Masks
    TMDB3.2

    PJ Masks

    2015 · CA

    Connor, Greg and Amaya are normal kids by day, but at night they activate their bracelets, which link into their pajamas and give them fantastic super powers, turning them into their alternate identities: the PJ Masks! The team consists of Catboy (Connor), Gekko (Greg) and Owlette (Amaya). Together, they go on adventures, solve mysteries, and learn valuable lessons. Watch the first six seasons of PJ Masks now on Disney+!

    Doctor Who
    TMDB3.2

    Doctor Who

    2024 · UK

    The Doctor and his companion travel across time and space encountering incredible friends and foes.

    The Lost World
    TMDB3.6

    The Lost World

    1999 · AU

    Early 20th-century adventurers find themselves fighting for survival after their hot-air balloon crashes into a remote part of the Amazon, stranding them on a prehistoric plateau.

    Danger Man
    TMDB3.6

    Danger Man

    1960 · UK

    Danger Man is a British television series which was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the programme and wrote many of the scripts. Danger Man was financed by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment.

    Black Doves
    TMDB3.5

    Black Doves

    2024 · UK

    When a spy posing as a politician's wife learns her lover has been murdered, an old assassin friend joins her on a quest for truth — and vengeance.

    Gangs of London
    TMDB3.9

    Gangs of London

    2020 · UK

    When the head of a criminal organisation, Finn Wallace is assassinated, the sudden power vacuum his death creates threatens the fragile peace between the intricate web of gangs operating on the streets of the city. Now it’s up to the grieving, volatile and impulsive Sean Wallace to restore control and find those responsible for killing his father.

    Young Sherlock
    TMDB3.9

    Young Sherlock

    2026 · UK

    Sherlock Holmes is a disgraced young man, raw and unfiltered, when he finds himself wrapped up in a murder case that threatens his liberty. His first ever case unravels a globe-trotting conspiracy that changes his life forever.

    The Sarah Jane Adventures
    TMDB3.5

    The Sarah Jane Adventures

    2007 · UK

    Sarah Jane Smith is a truly remarkable woman who inhabits a world of mystery, danger and wonder; a world where aliens are commonplace and the Earth is under constant threat. A world that Maria Jackson, a seemingly ordinary girl, can only dream of – until she moves in next door. Nothing will ever be ordinary again.

    Ultimate Force
    TMDB3.4

    Ultimate Force

    2002 · UK

    This covert combat series focuses on the Red Troop, an elite group of soldiers from the British military's Special Air Service group.

    The Sweeney
    TMDB4.0

    The Sweeney

    1975 · UK

    Jack Regan, an unethical officer of the Flying Squad, uses unorthodox methods to pursue criminals with the help of his partner, George Carter.

    UFO
    TMDB3.9

    UFO

    1970 · UK

    A secret, high-technology international agency called SHADO defends Earth from alien invaders.

    Police Rescue
    TMDB3.4

    Police Rescue

    1991 · AU

    Police Rescue was an Australian television series The series dealt with the New South Wales Police Rescue Squad based in Sydney and their work attending to various incidents from road accidents to train crashes.

    Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom
    TMDB3.0

    Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom

    2009 · UK

    The friendship between fairy princess Holly and Ben Elf in an enchanted magical kingdom of elves and fairies.

    Robin Hood
    TMDB3.5

    Robin Hood

    2006 · UK

    Robin of Loxley returns to England after 5 years of fighting in the crusades alongside King Richard. After losing his estates and being branded an outlaw, he takes on the title of Robin Hood and assembles a ragtag band of outlaw companions. Together they steal from the rich and give to the poor - all the while avoiding and outwitting their enemies Sir Guy of Gisborne and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham.

    The Buccaneers
    TMDB3.2

    The Buccaneers

    1956 · UK

    The adventures of privateer Captain Dan Tempest and his crew of former pirates as they make their way across the seven seas in The Sultana.

    WWE NXT UK
    TMDB3.3

    WWE NXT UK

    2018 · UK

    A professional wrestling program showcasing the best of WWE's UK division.

    Danger Mouse
    TMDB3.1

    Danger Mouse

    2015 · UK

    Danger Mouse is back saving London, saving the World and, most importantly, saving Penfold in brand new and fantastically absurd, energetic adventures.

    Thunderbirds Are Go!
    TMDB3.1

    Thunderbirds Are Go!

    2015 · UK

    Remake of the hit 1960s television show. In the 21st century, Jeff Tracy, a former astronaut, amasses a colossal fortune and decides that he must use it to benefit others. His answer to this desire is to create International Rescue, a unique private emergency response service equipped with customized designed vehicles and equipment that enable the organization to react to any crisis whether it be in sea, air, land, or space. Jeff's five sons volunteer to operate as the pilots and field agents, as well "Brain" who acts as the teams engineer. In addition, Jeff's friend, Kyrano and his daughter Tanusha aka Kayo (based on the original series Tin-Tin character) agree to be the support staff. In addition to the field team, IR also maintains an intelligence network with Lady Penelope and her ex-con chauffeur, Parker as the chief agents in this arm.

    Thunderbirds
    TMDB3.8

    Thunderbirds

    1965 · UK

    Thunderbirds is a 1960s British science-fiction television series which was produced using a mixed method of marionette puppetry and scale-model special effects termed "Supermarionation". The series is set in the 21st century and follows the exploits of International Rescue, a secret organization formed to save people in mortal danger with the help of technologically advanced land, sea, air and space vehicles and equipment, launched from a hidden base on Tracy Island in the South Pacific Ocean.

    M.I. High
    TMDB3.0

    M.I. High

    2007 · UK

    A team of undercover teenage spies working for the fictional British secret intelligence agency MI9 who have to balance their school life with their jobs as secret agents.

    Being Human
    TMDB3.5

    Being Human

    2009 · UK

    Deciding to turn over a new leaf, a group of friends who also happen to be vampires and werewolves move into a house together, only to find that it is haunted by ghosts of people who have been killed under mysterious circumstances. As they deal with the challenges of being supernatural creatures, their desire to be human bonds them.

    About British Action & Adventure TV Shows

    British television

    British television's defining habit is the short series — six episodes, one writer, a finite story. That structure produced the modern prestige miniseries and a format catalogue the rest of the world keeps adapting.

    Action & Adventure

    Action and adventure television has to sustain across seasons what a film delivers in two hours, so the best of it builds serialized stakes around the set pieces. Streaming budgets have narrowed the gap with film considerably.

    In this list

    Years covered
    1955–2026
    Best reviewed
    The Last Kingdom (8.3)
    Often also
    Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Crime
    Longest run
    26 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best British action & adventure TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are The Last Kingdom, Doctor Who, and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    British action & adventure TV shows are ordered by overall popularity, which blends how often a title is viewed, searched, and logged. It updates as viewing habits shift, so the list reflects what people are actually watching rather than a fixed critical canon.
    Where can I watch these TV shows?
    Every show page lists current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region, alongside community ratings and reviews from Flickfolio members.

    Keep browsing

    Other Genres

    AnimationDramaComedyWesternCrimeDocumentaryMysteryFamilyKidsRealitySci-Fi & FantasySoap
    War & Politics

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