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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.

    40shows
    1rated by members
    Top ratedSherlock4.0
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    Sherlock
    TMDB4.3
    FF4.0

    Sherlock

    2010 · UK

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

    The Bill
    TMDB3.4

    The Bill

    1984 · UK

    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.

    MobLand
    TMDB4.3

    MobLand

    2025 · UK

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

    Luther
    TMDB3.9

    Luther

    2010 · UK

    A dark psychological crime drama starring Idris Elba as Luther, a man struggling with his own terrible demons, who might be as dangerous as the depraved murderers he hunts.

    EastEnders
    TMDB2.1

    EastEnders

    1985 · UK

    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 · UK

    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.

    Midsomer Murders
    TMDB3.7

    Midsomer Murders

    1997 · UK

    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.

    Death in Paradise
    TMDB3.7

    Death in Paradise

    2011 · UK

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

    Agatha Christie's Poirot
    TMDB4.1

    Agatha Christie's Poirot

    1989 · UK

    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.

    Peaky Blinders
    TMDB4.3

    Peaky Blinders

    2013 · UK

    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.

    Silent Witness
    TMDB3.8

    Silent Witness

    1996 · UK

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

    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).

    The Gentlemen
    TMDB3.9

    The Gentlemen

    2024 · UK

    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.

    Father Brown
    TMDB3.9

    Father Brown

    2013 · UK

    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.

    Heartbeat
    TMDB3.5

    Heartbeat

    1992 · UK

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

    This City Is Ours
    TMDB3.8

    This City Is Ours

    2025 · UK

    After trying to leave a world of crime, Michael is dragged back into the fold to answer questions. Back in Liverpool tensions continue to bubble amongst the remaining members of the gang, and a gangster who's just been let out of prison wants answers.

    Vera
    TMDB3.7

    Vera

    2011 · UK

    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.

    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.

    Shetland
    TMDB3.8

    Shetland

    2013 · UK

    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.

    Minder
    TMDB3.6

    Minder

    1979 · UK

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

    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.

    Agatha Christie's Marple
    TMDB4.0

    Agatha Christie's Marple

    2004 · UK

    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.

    Sherlock Holmes
    TMDB4.1

    Sherlock Holmes

    1984 · UK

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

    A Touch of Frost
    TMDB3.8

    A Touch of Frost

    1992 · UK

    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.

    Line of Duty
    TMDB4.1

    Line of Duty

    2012 · UK

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

    Waking the Dead
    TMDB3.6

    Waking the Dead

    2001 · UK

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

    Grantchester
    TMDB3.6

    Grantchester

    2014 · UK

    In 1953 at the hamlet of Grantchester, Sidney Chambers—a charismatic, charming clergyman—turns investigative vicar when one of his parishioners dies in suspicious circumstances.

    No Hiding Place
    TMDB2.4

    No Hiding Place

    1959 · UK

    No Hiding Place is a British television series that was produced at Wembley Studios by Associated-Rediffusion for the ITV network between 16 September 1959 and 22 June 1967. It was the sequel to the series Murder Bag and Crime Sheet, all starring Raymond Francis as Detective Superintendent, later Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Lockhart.

    Inside No. 9
    TMDB4.0

    Inside No. 9

    2014 · UK

    An anthology of darkly comic twisted tales, each one taking place behind a door marked 'number 9'.

    Foyle's War
    TMDB4.0

    Foyle's War

    2002 · UK

    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.

    Endeavour
    TMDB4.0

    Endeavour

    2013 · UK

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

    Hustle
    TMDB3.9

    Hustle

    2004 · UK

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

    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.

    Lewis
    TMDB3.8

    Lewis

    2007 · UK

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

    Dalziel and Pascoe
    TMDB3.2

    Dalziel and Pascoe

    1996 · UK

    In the fictional Yorkshire town of Wetherton, the unlikely duo of politically incorrect elephant-in-a-China-shop-copper DS Andrew Dalziel (pronounced Dee-ell) and his more sensitive and university educated sidekick DS, later DI, Peter Pascoe is always on hand to solve the classic murder mystery, while maintaining down-to-Earth wit and humour.

    Time
    TMDB3.8

    Time

    2021 · UK

    Guilt, violence and impossible choices – what does it take to survive?

    Inspector Morse
    TMDB4.0

    Inspector Morse

    1987 · UK

    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.

    Bad Girls
    TMDB3.8

    Bad Girls

    1999 · UK

    Bad Girls is a British television drama series that was broadcast on ITV from 1 June 1999 to 20 December 2006 and starred Simone Lahbib, Mandana Jones, Debra Stephenson, Linda Henry, Jack Ellis and many more throughout the eight-year run. The series was broadcast in 17 countries and was produced by Shed Productions, the company which later produced Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road. It is set in the fictional women's prison of Larkhall, and features a mixture of serious and light storylines focusing on the prisoners and staff of G Wing. From 2010, the UK broadcast rights were bought by CBS Drama, and is repeated regularly – as of September 2012, the channel is re-running the series again in a late-night time slot.

    Unforgotten
    TMDB3.8

    Unforgotten

    2015 · UK

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

    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.

    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
    1959–2025
    Best reviewed
    MobLand (8.6)
    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 Sherlock, The Bill, and MobLand. 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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