Top TV Shows Similar to Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey, a British historical drama created by Julian Fellowes, aired on ITV and PBS from 2010 to 2015. The series follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in Yorkshire during the early 20th century. It achieved a 7.6 IMDb rating and won a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama in 2012. The show generated over $1 billion in global box office and merchandise revenue. Its success led to a feature film released in 2019 and a sequel film in 2022. The series is currently available on ITV Hub and Peacock, with streaming demand ranking in the top 15% of all TV shows in the United States according to Parrot Analytics data for 2024. Read Forbes coverage on Downton Abbey streaming trends.
The PBS Masterpiece presentation of Downton Abbey attracted an average of 10 million viewers per episode in the U.S. during its initial broadcast window. The series employed over 500 cast and crew members across six seasons. Production design by Donal Woods and costume design by Anna Mary Scott Robbins received multiple Emmy Awards. The show's theme tune, composed by John Lunn, became a recognizable piece of orchestral television music. ITV Studios handled international distribution, licensing the series to more than 220 territories. The companion book "The Chronicles of Downton Abbey" sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. The estate used for exterior shots, Highclere Castle, reports more than 1 million annual visitors since the series premiered. ITV official Downton Abbey press release.
Period Dramas with Similar Themes and Settings
Downton Abbey Style Storytelling
Brideshead Revisited, a Granada Television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel, aired on ITV in 1981. The series depicts the aristocratic Flyte family across three decades of British social change. It holds a 9.3 IMDb rating and is frequently cited as a predecessor to Downton Abbey's tonal style. The production used real locations including Castle Howard for Brideshead. The series won a BAFTA for Best Drama Series in 1982 and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series. It streams on BritBox and is available for purchase on Amazon Prime Video. The series influenced a generation of British period dramas and remains a benchmark for literary adaptations. BBC guide to Brideshead Revisited.
The Gilded Age, created by Julian Fellowes for NBC and HBO, premiered in 2022 and is set in 1880s New York City. The series draws direct creative lineage from Downton Abbey, with Fellowes writing and executive producing. It follows the Russell family as they navigate the clash between old money and new money in the Gilded Age. The first season averaged 0.6 million viewers in the U.S. on NBC and became HBO's most-watched new drama series debut in the 2021-2022 season. Production design by Bob Shaw and costumes by Patti LuPIN received critical acclaim. The series was renewed for a third season by HBO in 2023. HBO official The Gilded Age page.