The 12 Best Period Dramas To Watch Now: Your Ultimate Guide To Shows Like Downton Abbey (Updated 2025)
Are you searching for a new period drama to fill the aristocratic void left by the Crawley family and the grandeur of Highclere Castle? As of December 2025, the world of historical television is richer and more vibrant than ever, offering a stunning array of family sagas, upstairs/downstairs dynamics, and high-stakes social dramas that capture the essence of what made Downton Abbey a global phenomenon.
This curated list goes beyond the obvious, providing you with the most current and compelling series—including recent hits from Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes—that feature the same blend of historical accuracy, lavish costumes, and deeply personal character drama you crave. Prepare your streaming queue for your next obsession.
The Julian Fellowes Universe: Direct Successors to Downton Abbey
The most natural transition for any devoted Downton fan is to explore the other works of its creator, the Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes. These shows share his signature wit, meticulous attention to class structure, and compelling, interwoven storylines.
1. The Gilded Age (2022–Present)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who love the clash of Old Money vs. New Money and the excitement of a new, ongoing saga.
Set in 1880s New York City, The Gilded Age is essentially the American cousin of Downton Abbey. The series follows Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), a young woman from rural Pennsylvania who moves to Manhattan to live with her wealthy, old-money aunts, Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) and Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon).
The central conflict is the social war between the established New York elite and the ambitious "new money" industrialist family, the Russells, led by the formidable Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) and her railroad tycoon husband, George Russell (Morgan Spector). Like Downton, the show meticulously explores both the lives of the elite "upstairs" families and the personal dramas of their "downstairs" staff, complete with intricate social rules and stunning historical detail. With Season 3 currently in development, this is a major, ongoing historical saga to dive into.
2. Belgravia (2020)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who appreciate a tighter, more focused mystery centered on a single, shocking secret.
Also written by Julian Fellowes, Belgravia is a six-part limited series that begins dramatically on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, at the Duchess of Richmond’s ball in Brussels. The main action, however, is set 25 years later in the opulent, newly-developed London neighborhood of Belgravia in the 1840s.
The plot revolves around the Trenchard family, a nouveau riche clan who try to navigate the labyrinthine world of high society after a long-held secret from the Battle of Waterloo era threatens to expose and ruin two prominent families. The show features a clear upstairs/downstairs dynamic, with the servants of the Trenchard and Bellasis households playing a crucial role in the unfolding conspiracy, making it a perfect, self-contained binge-watch for Downton devotees.
The Grand British Sagas: Royalty, History, and High Society
These series capture the sense of scale, historical sweep, and institutional drama that defined Downton Abbey’s relationship with World War I and the changing times.
3. The Crown (2016–2023)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who love the intersection of historical events and intense personal drama within a grand institution.
While Downton Abbey focuses on the aristocracy, The Crown centers on the ultimate British institution: the monarchy. Created by Peter Morgan, the series meticulously chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, beginning with her marriage in 1947 and continuing through the late 20th century.
The show's core theme—the conflict between the individual (Elizabeth) and the institution (The Crown)—mirrors the struggles of the Crawley family to maintain their traditions in a modernizing world. Known for its astronomical production values, stunning historical recreations, and a rotating cast of acclaimed actors (including Olivia Colman and Imelda Staunton), The Crown is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates lavish historical drama.
4. Victoria (2016–2019)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who want a royal drama with a focus on romance and a strong central female lead.
Starring Jenna Coleman as the young Queen Victoria, this series follows the monarch's early life, from her accession to the throne at age 18 through her passionate marriage to Prince Albert and her political responsibilities in the 1830s to 1850s.
Like Downton, Victoria features a compelling household dynamic, where the servants and personal staff of Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have their own intertwined storylines with the royal family. The series is celebrated for its beautiful costumes and its intimate portrayal of a monarch balancing duty with personal desire, a theme that resonates deeply with the experiences of Lady Mary Crawley and her sisters.
5. Poldark (2015–2019)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who love a rugged, romantic hero struggling to restore his family's honor and estate.
Based on the novels by Winston Graham, Poldark is set in late 18th-century Cornwall. It follows Captain Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) as he returns home from the American Revolutionary War to find his father dead, his estate in ruins, and his sweetheart engaged to another man.
The series is a classic family saga focused on the struggle to maintain a noble house. It features intense social commentary on class division, poverty, and the mining industry, providing a grittier, yet equally compelling, look at the challenges faced by the landed gentry and the working class, similar to the estate management plots in Downton Abbey.
The Upstairs/Downstairs Essentials and Modern Twists
These recommendations are either the historical inspiration for Downton or modern shows that offer a fresh, exciting take on the period drama genre.
6. Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975)
The Perfect Match For: The historical purist who wants to see the original blueprint for the genre.
If you want to understand the DNA of Downton Abbey, you must watch the original Upstairs, Downstairs. This seminal British drama, which ran from 1971 to 1975, is the direct inspiration for Fellowes' work. It chronicles the lives of the wealthy Bellamy family and their servants at 165 Eaton Place in London.
Covering the years 1903 to 1930, the show addresses major historical events, including World War I and the rise of the Labour Party, through the eyes of both the aristocratic Lady Marjorie Bellamy and her husband, Richard Bellamy, and their household staff. It is a foundational text for the upstairs/downstairs dynamic and a richer exploration of the servants' lives.
7. Bridgerton (2020–Present)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who love the balls, the romance, the costumes, and a faster, more scandalous pace.
Based on the novels by Julia Quinn, Bridgerton is a global phenomenon set in the competitive world of Regency-era London high society. While it has a more modern sensibility and a much higher romance quotient, it shares Downton’s focus on the marriage market, family duty, and social maneuvering.
The recent focus on Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton's love story in Season 3, released in two parts in May and June 2024, keeps the series highly current and relevant. If you enjoy the spectacle of the social Season, the gossip of Lady Whistledown (a parallel to the social pressures faced by the Crawleys), and lavish balls, Bridgerton is your next binge.
8. Call the Midwife (2012–Present)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who love the "downstairs" community, heartfelt drama, and strong female ensemble casts.
While lacking the aristocratic glamour, Call the Midwife is a beloved British period drama that focuses on the lives of nurse midwives and nuns working in the impoverished East End of London in the late 1950s and 1960s.
It resonates with Downton Abbey fans through its community focus (Nonnatus House), its exploration of social change, and its powerful, emotional storylines that address major historical and social topics. The series is still ongoing, with Season 14 and beyond confirmed, making it a long-term commitment with the same heartfelt depth as the servants' stories at Downton.
9. Outlander (2014–Present)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who want historical drama mixed with epic romance and adventure.
Based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander tells the story of Claire Randall, a married World War II nurse who is mysteriously transported back to 1743 Scotland, where she meets and falls in love with Highland warrior Jamie Fraser. The show is an epic blend of historical fiction, romance, and time travel.
Its appeal to Downton fans lies in its deep commitment to historical detail, its exploration of a specific culture (Highland Scotland, Colonial America), and the compelling, decades-long family saga that centers on duty, survival, and love across time. It provides a more adventurous, sweeping take on the historical genre.
10. The Buccaneers (2023–Present)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who enjoy the transatlantic culture clash and a focus on spirited young women.
Based on Edith Wharton's unfinished novel, The Buccaneers follows a group of wealthy American heiresses in the 1870s who are sent to England to secure aristocratic husbands. This show directly inverts the Downton dynamic: instead of impoverished aristocrats marrying rich Americans (like Cora Crawley), it’s the Americans buying their way into the peerage.
The series is vibrant, modern in tone, and focuses on the high-stakes social season, providing a fresh, feminist perspective on the struggle for love and independence in a rigid, title-obsessed society.
11. The Forsyte Saga (2002)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who love a sprawling, multi-generational family epic spanning decades.
This acclaimed adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels spans the late Victorian era through the 1920s, tracing the lives of three generations of the wealthy, upper-middle-class Forsyte family. Like Downton, it uses the family's history to chart the social changes of the era, focusing on themes of property, duty, and passion.
While it lacks the heavy upstairs/downstairs focus, it excels as a portrait of a powerful family struggling with inheritance, scandal, and the changing definition of wealth. It is often cited as one of the most structurally similar shows to Downton Abbey in its scope and tone.
12. The Duchess of Duke Street (1976–1977)
The Perfect Match For: Fans who particularly enjoyed the "downstairs" characters and their ambition.
Set in Edwardian England, this series focuses on Louisa Leyton, a spirited scullery maid who rises through the ranks to eventually become the owner of the prestigious Bentinck Hotel. The show is set in the same historical period as the early years of Downton Abbey and Upstairs, Downstairs.
It provides a fascinating, alternative perspective to the aristocracy, focusing instead on the ambition, hard work, and social mobility of a working-class woman in a time of rigid class divisions. It's a great choice for those who were most invested in the stories of characters like Anna Bates and Mr. Carson.
Choosing Your Next Historical Obsession
Whether your preference is the intricate social maneuvering of the American elite in The Gilded Age, the royal drama of Victoria, or the sweeping romance of Poldark, the spirit of Downton Abbey lives on in these exceptional period dramas. The key entities that connect them all—from the Upstairs/Downstairs dynamic and the Edwardian era setting to the high-stakes social season and the enduring theme of duty versus desire—ensure that your craving for quality historical television will be satisfied.
Start with the Julian Fellowes-created shows for the most seamless transition, or jump into a modern classic like Bridgerton for pure escapism. Each series on this list offers a unique window into a bygone era, complete with the lavish production and compelling storytelling you expect.
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