The Victorian era has always been a rich setting for television. It was a time of grand houses, strict social rules, class divisions, scientific progress, crime, mystery, and deep personal struggles. That makes it perfect for stories of TV shows filled with drama, romance, ambition, and danger.
Some focus on real history, while others use the period as a backdrop for mystery, horror, comedy, or social change. Here are some of the best TV shows set in the Victorian era.
12. Quacks (2017)
Before modern medicine became trusted and organized, Victorian doctors were still experimenting in strange, risky, and often ridiculous ways. ‘Quacks‘ is one of the best tv shows that turns the messy period into a British comedy about surgeons, physicians, dentists, and women trying to prove themselves in a male-dominated world.
The story includes Robert, a proud surgeon obsessed with speed; William, a doctor interested in early psychology; John, a dentist testing laughing gas; and Caroline, who dreams of becoming an apothecary.
11. The Irregulars (2021)
In this darker version of the Sherlock Holmes world, the real action belongs to a group of street-smart teenagers in Victorian London. Known as the Baker Street Irregulars, they are pulled into dangerous cases by Dr. Watson and the troubled, mysterious Sherlock Holmes.
‘The Irregulars‘ adds a supernatural twist to the classic detective setting, with monsters, psychic powers, and strange forces threatening the city. The group includes Bea, her psychic sister Jessie, Billy, Spike, and Leo, a prince in disguise.
10. The Nevers (2021- 2023)
In Victorian London, a strange event gives some people, mostly women, unusual powers. These people become known as the “Touched,” and many of them are feared, hunted, or pushed aside by society. ‘The Nevers‘ is about Amalia True, a tough and mysterious widow, and Penance Adair, a brilliant inventor who creates clever steampunk gadgets.
Together, they run a safe house for the Touched and try to protect them from powerful enemies. The series mixes science fiction, mystery, action, and social conflict while showing a hidden side of Victorian society.
9. The English Game (2020)
In the late 1870s, football in England was still controlled by wealthy amateurs, but that was beginning to change. ‘The English Game‘ is one of the popular TV shows that tells the story of this turning point through Fergus Suter, a working-class Scottish footballer secretly paid to play, and Arthur Kinnaird, an upper-class player tied to the old rules.
As their worlds collide, the series shows how football slowly moved beyond elite clubs and became a sport for ordinary people. Across six episodes, it explores class conflict, ambition, teamwork, and the early rise of professional football.
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8. Miss Scarlet and The Duke (2020 -)
After her father’s death, Eliza Scarlet is left with no money and very few choices. But instead of accepting the limited life Victorian society expects from women, she decides to take over his detective agency and make a name for herself in a man’s world.
‘Miss Scarlet and The Duke‘ shows Eliza solving crimes across London while often clashing with her childhood friend, Inspector William “The Duke” Wellington. Their partnership brings tension, wit, and sharp chemistry, while later seasons introduce new faces and changes in Eliza’s professional life.
7. Sherlock Holmes (1984 – 1994)
This one is a classic Granada Television series that aired from 1984 to 1994. It is often considered one of the most faithful screen adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective stories. Jeremy Brett delivers a powerful, memorable performance as Sherlock Holmes, capturing both his sharp mind and intense personality.
Set in late 19th-century London, the series creates a strong Victorian atmosphere with detailed costumes, settings, and mystery plots. Across 41 adaptations, Holmes and Dr. Watson solve complex cases involving crime, secrets, and clever deductions. The series ended after Jeremy Brett’s health declined.
6. Ripper Street (2012 – 2016)
It is a British crime drama set in Whitechapel, East London, soon after the Jack the Ripper murders. The area is still full of fear, crime, and unrest, and the detectives of H Division are under pressure to restore order in one of Victorian London’s most dangerous neighborhoods.
The story is about Inspector Edmund Reid, a thoughtful but troubled detective, along with Sergeant Bennet Drake and forensic expert Captain Homer Jackson. Together, they investigate brutal crimes while dealing with guilt, corruption, changing society, and the dark secrets hiding in Whitechapel’s streets.
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5. Bleak House (2005)
This is a 2005 BBC drama based on Charles Dickens’s famous novel. The story centers on the long-running court case Jarndyce and Jarndyce, which has continued for generations and ruined many lives.
Three young orphans, Esther Summerson, Richard Carstone, and Ada Clare, are sent to live at Bleak House under the care of John Jarndyce. The series shows the unfairness of Victorian society, the corruption of the legal system, and the hidden secrets of wealthy families.
4. North & South (2004)
This show is about Margaret Hale, a young woman from the peaceful south of England whose life changes when her family moves to Milton, a smoky northern mill town. There, she meets John Thornton, a strict and wealthy mill owner. At first, they strongly dislike each other because of their different views on workers, class, and duty.
As strikes, family loss, and misunderstandings test them, both Margaret and Thornton slowly change. Margaret begins to understand the struggles of industrial life, while Thornton sees her strength and kindness. In the end, they overcome their pride and admit their love.
3. Victoria (2016 – 2019)
This one tells the story of Queen Victoria’s early life and reign. The series begins when she becomes queen at just 18 years old in 1837. It shows how she learns to handle royal duties, political pressure, court drama, and the challenges of ruling a powerful country at a young age.
The show also focuses on her personal life, especially her bond with Lord Melbourne and her romance and marriage with Prince Albert. Across three seasons, it explores Victoria’s growth as a queen, wife, and mother while facing family struggles, public unrest, and royal responsibilities.
2. Penny Dreadful (2014 – 2016)
It is a dark horror thriller set in Victorian London. The show brings together famous characters from classic literature, such as Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and Dracula, and sets them in a world of danger, fear, and supernatural forces.
The story mainly follows Vanessa Ives, a woman with mysterious psychic powers, and Sir Malcolm Murray, an explorer searching for answers. Together, they face evil forces while also dealing with their own painful pasts and inner demons.
1. The Gilded Age (2022 -)
It follows the life in 1880s New York, where old traditions clash with new ambition. The story focuses on the rivalry between the Russells, a wealthy “new money” family trying to enter high society, and the van Rhijn-Brooks family, who represent the powerful “old money” elite.
Marian Brook, a young orphan, moves in with her old-money aunts and soon gets caught between both worlds. The show also follows Peggy Scott, an ambitious Black writer facing personal and social challenges, as well as the servants working in New York’s grand mansions.
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