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    Home/Browse/TV Shows/British TV Shows/British Crime TV Shows

    British Crime TV Shows

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

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    MobLand
    TMDB4.2

    MobLand

    2025

    country: United Kingdom

    Two mob families clash in a war that threatens to topple empires and lives.

    Midsomer Murders
    TMDB3.7

    Midsomer Murders

    1997

    country: United Kingdom

    The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

    EastEnders
    TMDB2.1

    EastEnders

    1985

    country: United Kingdom

    The everyday lives of working-class residents of Albert Square, a traditional Victorian square of terrace houses surrounding a park in the East End of London's Walford borough.

    Slow Horses
    TMDB4.0

    Slow Horses

    2022

    country: United Kingdom

    Follow a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

    The Gentlemen
    TMDB3.9

    The Gentlemen

    2024

    country: United Kingdom

    When aristocratic Eddie inherits the family estate, he discovers that it's home to an enormous weed empire — and its proprietors aren't going anywhere.

    Death in Paradise
    TMDB3.7

    Death in Paradise

    2011

    country: United Kingdom

    A brilliant but idiosyncratic British detective and his resourceful local team solve baffling murder mysteries on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie.

    Peaky Blinders
    TMDB4.3

    Peaky Blinders

    2013

    country: United Kingdom

    A gangster family epic set in 1919 Birmingham, England and centered on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss Tommy Shelby, who means to move up in the world.

    The Bill
    TMDB3.4

    The Bill

    1984

    country: United Kingdom

    The daily lives of the men and women at Sun Hill Police Station as they fight crime on the streets of London. From bomb threats to armed robbery and drug raids to the routine demands of policing this ground-breaking series focuses as much on crime as it does on the personal lives of its characters.

    Agatha Christie's Poirot
    TMDB4.1

    Agatha Christie's Poirot

    1989

    country: United Kingdom

    From England to Egypt, accompanied by his elegant and trustworthy sidekicks, the intelligent yet eccentrically-refined Belgian detective Hercule Poirot pits his wits against a collection of first class deceptions.

    Silent Witness
    TMDB3.8

    Silent Witness

    1996

    country: United Kingdom

    A team of exceptional forensic pathologists and scientists investigate heinous crimes and use their skills to catch the people responsible.

    Father Brown
    TMDB3.8

    Father Brown

    2013

    country: United Kingdom

    Father Brown is based on G. K. Chesterton's detective stories about a Catholic priest who doubles as an amateur detective in order to try and solve mysteries.

    Minder
    TMDB3.6

    Minder

    1979

    country: United Kingdom

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

    Vera
    TMDB3.7

    Vera

    2011

    country: United Kingdom

    A sharp detective with a messy life, DCI Vera Stanhope patrols her “patch” of northeast England, pursuing the truth in cases of murder, kidnapping, and blackmail. Vera is obsessive about her work and faces the world with caustic wit, guile and courage.

    The Avengers
    TMDB3.9

    The Avengers

    1961

    country: United Kingdom

    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).

    Sherlock Holmes
    TMDB4.1

    Sherlock Holmes

    1984

    country: United Kingdom

    Sherlock Holmes uses his abilities to take on cases by private clients and those that the Scotland Yard are unable to solve, along with his friend Dr. Watson.

    Spooks
    TMDB3.9

    Spooks

    2002

    country: United Kingdom

    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.

    Sherlock
    TMDB4.3

    Sherlock

    2010

    country: United Kingdom

    A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.

    Shetland
    TMDB3.8

    Shetland

    2013

    country: United Kingdom

    Created from the novels by award winning crime writer Ann Cleeves, Shetland follows DI Jimmy Perez and his team as they investigate crime within the close knit island community. In this isolated and sometimes inhospitable environment, the team have to rely on a uniquely resourceful style of policing.

    Agatha Christie's Marple
    TMDB3.9

    Agatha Christie's Marple

    2004

    country: United Kingdom

    The adventures of Miss Jane Marple, an elderly spinster living in the quiet little village of St Mary Mead. During her many visits to friends and relatives in other villages, Miss Marple often stumbles upon mysterious murders which she helps solve. Although the police are sometimes reluctant to accept Miss Marple's help, her reputation and unparalleled powers of observation eventually win them over.

    Heartbeat
    TMDB3.6

    Heartbeat

    1992

    country: United Kingdom

    Set during the 1960s in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Aidensfield, this enduringly popular series interweaves crime and medical storylines.

    Last Seen
    TMDB4.1

    Last Seen

    2026

    country: United Kingdom

    When emergency dispatcher Ian Ridley receives a frantic call from a teenager he believes could be his long-missing daughter, he stops at nothing to find her.

    Line of Duty
    TMDB4.1

    Line of Duty

    2012

    country: United Kingdom

    A drama about the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anticorruption unit.

    A Touch of Frost
    TMDB3.8

    A Touch of Frost

    1992

    country: United Kingdom

    Jack Frost is a gritty, dogged and unconventional detective with sympathy for the underdog and an instinct for moral justice who attracts trouble like a magnet. Despite some animosity with his superintendent, Norman “Horn-rimmed Harry” Mullett, Frost and his ever-changing roster of assistants manage to solve cases via his clever mind, good heart, and cool touch.

    Vigil
    TMDB3.6

    Vigil

    2021

    country: United Kingdom

    The mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler and a death on-board the submarine HMS Vigil bring the police into conflict with the Navy and British security services. DCI Amy Silva and DS Kirsten Longacre lead an investigation on land and at sea into a conspiracy that goes to the very heart of Britain’s national security.

    Foyle's War
    TMDB4.0

    Foyle's War

    2002

    country: United Kingdom

    As WW2 rages around the world, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front as he investigates crimes on the south coast of England. Foyle's War opens in southern England in the year 1940. Later series sees the retired detective working as an MI5 agent operating in the aftermath of the war.

    Waking the Dead
    TMDB3.6

    Waking the Dead

    2001

    country: United Kingdom

    A detective team apply new techniques to old crimes as they solve cold cases.

    Hustle
    TMDB3.9

    Hustle

    2004

    country: United Kingdom

    A motley group of London con artists pull of a series of daring and intricate stings.

    The Saint
    TMDB3.7

    The Saint

    1962

    country: United Kingdom

    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.

    The Sweeney
    TMDB4.0

    The Sweeney

    1975

    country: United Kingdom

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

    Lewis
    TMDB3.8

    Lewis

    2007

    country: United Kingdom

    Inspector Robert Lewis and Sergeant James Hathaway solve the tough cases that the learned inhabitants of Oxford throw at them.

    Inspector Morse
    TMDB3.9

    Inspector Morse

    1987

    country: United Kingdom

    Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis, as well as a large cast of notable actors and actresses.

    Ludwig
    TMDB3.9

    Ludwig

    2024

    country: United Kingdom

    John Taylor lives in quiet solitude, designing puzzles for a living, under the nom-de-plume of 'Ludwig'. When his identical twin, James, disappears off the face of the earth, John takes over his brother's identity in a quest to discover his whereabouts.

    The Night Manager
    TMDB3.9

    The Night Manager

    2016

    country: United Kingdom

    Former British soldier Jonathan Pine navigates the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington where an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. To infiltrate the inner circle of lethal arms dealer Richard Onslow Roper, Pine must himself become a criminal.

    Ripper Street
    TMDB3.7

    Ripper Street

    2012

    country: United Kingdom

    A drama set in the East End of London in 1889, during the aftermath of the "Ripper" murders. The action centres around the notorious H Division – the police precinct from hell – which is charged with keeping order in the chaotic streets of Whitechapel. Ripper Street explores the lives of characters trying to recover from the Ripper's legacy, from crimes that have not only irretrievably altered their lives, but the very fabric of their city. At the drama's heart our detectives try to bring a little light into the dark world they inhabit.

    The Professionals
    TMDB3.8

    The Professionals

    1977

    country: United Kingdom

    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.

    The Capture
    TMDB3.8

    The Capture

    2019

    country: United Kingdom

    When soldier Shaun Emery's conviction for a murder in Afghanistan is overturned due to flawed video evidence, he returns to life as a free man with his young daughter. But when damning CCTV footage from a night out in London comes to light, Shaun's life takes a shocking turn and he must soon fight for his freedom once again.

    Bad Sisters
    TMDB3.7

    Bad Sisters

    2022

    country: United Kingdom

    The tight-knit Garvey sisters have always looked out for one another. But when the toxic brother-in-law they all wanted dead actually dies, it turns their lives upside down and tests their bond like nothing before.

    Endeavour
    TMDB4.0

    Endeavour

    2013

    country: United Kingdom

    The early days of a young Endeavour Morse, whose experiences as a detective constable with the Oxford City Police will ultimately shape his future.

    Unforgotten
    TMDB3.8

    Unforgotten

    2015

    country: United Kingdom

    London police detectives Cassie Stuart and Sunny Khan investigate historic cold cases involving missing persons, murder and long-hidden secrets.

    The Chelsea Detective
    TMDB3.2

    The Chelsea Detective

    2022

    country: United Kingdom

    Detective Inspector Max Arnold lives on a battered houseboat at the end of Cheyne Walk after separating from his art dealer wife Astrid. The son of a local bookshop owner, Max is a far cry from the affluent elite whose crimes he'll help solve along with D.C. Priya Shamsie.

    About British Crime 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.

    Crime

    Crime is arguably television's defining genre, spanning the weekly procedural, the single-case anthology, and the sprawling organized-crime epic. The serialized form suits investigation better than film ever has.

    In this list

    Years covered
    1961–2026
    Best reviewed
    Peaky Blinders (8.5)
    Often also
    Drama, Mystery, Comedy
    Longest run
    42 seasons

    Common questions

    What are the best British crime TV shows?
    By popularity across Flickfolio and TMDB, the top picks right now are MobLand, Midsomer Murders, and EastEnders. The full ranked list of 40 sits above — open any show for ratings, reviews, and streaming availability.
    How is this list ranked?
    British crime 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.

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