Even though BBC's Sherlock was… well, decent (and even great, in earlier seasons at least), this list is your ticket to finding your next favorite show.
When you think about British crime dramas, Sherlock Holmes might be the first name that pops into your head, but there's a whole world of gripping, suspenseful shows from the UK that are just waiting to pull you into their mysteries; these shows take you on a journey through dark alleys, foggy London streets, and the minds of some really clever detectives and criminals.
Detective Constables Janet Scott and Rachel Bailey, working in the Syndicate Nine Major Incident Team of the Manchester Metropolitan Police, balance their intense professional lives solving major crimes with the complexities of their personal lives, revealing the strength and vulnerability of women in a demanding job.
2. "The Responder" (2021) Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Police officer Chris Carson, working the night shift in Liverpool, navigates a series of personal crises and moral dilemmas while trying to keep the peace and protect those in his volatile community, often bending the rules to do what he deems right.
3. "River" (2015) Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Detective John River, haunted by visions of his deceased partner, Detective Sergeant Jackie "Stevie" Stevenson, seeks to solve her murder while wrestling with his own sanity, uncovering a series of complex crimes linked to her death.
4. "Life on Mars" (2006) Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
After a car accident in 2006, Detective Chief Inspector Sam Tyler wakes up in 1973, working under the tough and unorthodox Detective Inspector Gene Hunt, as he tries to understand his situation and solve crimes with outdated methods while looking for a way back to his time.
Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison, a skilled but embattled officer in a male-dominated police force, breaks new ground in each series by solving brutal crimes while dealing with sexism in the workplace and personal challenges.
Sergeant Catherine Cawood pursues the man who raped her late daughter, leading to a kidnapping gone wrong by the perpetrator, Tommy Lee Royce, as personal and professional lines blur in her quest for justice amidst the drug-infested valleys of West Yorkshire.
7. "Top Boy" (2011) Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
In the housing estates of East London, Dushane and his friend Sully navigate the complex and violent world of drug dealing to attain wealth and power, facing challenges from rivals, the law, and the consequences of their actions on their community and families.
8. "Bodyguard" (2018) Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
After thwarting a terrorist attack, PTSD-suffering war veteran and Protection Officer David Budd is assigned to protect Home Secretary Julia Montague, whose politics he despises, leading to a tangled web of conspiracy, terrorism, and betrayal.
9. "A Confession: As told by ITV News" (2019) Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Detective Superintendent Steve Fulcher breaches police protocol to coerce a confession from a suspect, Christopher Halliwell, about the whereabouts of a missing woman, Sian O'Callaghan, which leads to the discovery of a second victim but jeopardizes the entire case and Fulcher's career.
Set within the confines of a police interrogation room, detectives face off against suspects in a psychological game of cat-and-mouse, extracting confessions through intense and emotionally charged dialogues that reveal the truth behind crimes.
In early 1900s Vienna, young English doctor Max Liebermann, a student of Freud, teams up with Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt to solve a series of disturbing murders, using groundbreaking psychoanalytic techniques to understand the minds of their perpetrators.
12. "The Fall" (2013) Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%
Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson is called to Belfast to investigate a string of murders; as she closes in on the killer, Paul Spector, a bereaved father and grief counselor, the cat-and-mouse game between them reveals the complexity of their psyches and the darkness within.
Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez returns to his home in the Shetland Islands, where he solves various crimes that impact the close-knit community, unraveling complex relationships and secrets against the backdrop of the starkly beautiful landscape.
14. "Vera" (2011) Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%
Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, a solitary, obsessed, caustic, yet deeply caring detective in the North East England county of Northumberland, solves complex cases with her trusted colleagues, unraveling secrets and uncovering the truth behind the murders.
Detective Chief Inspector Endeavour Morse, known for his love of classical music, ale, and complex crossword puzzles, solves numerous murders alongside his partner, Sergeant Lewis, in the university town of Oxford, using his intellect and instinct.
16. "Cracker" (1993) Rotten Tomatoes score: 0%
Dr. Eddie "Fitz" Fitzgerald, a brilliant but flawed psychologist and alcoholic, assists the Manchester police in solving complex cases with his deep understanding of the criminal mind, while grappling with his personal demons.
17. "A Touch of Frost" (1992) Rotten Tomatoes score: 0%
Detective Inspector Jack Frost, an unconventional and compassionate detective, tackles various crimes in the fictional town of Denton, balancing his knack for solving serious crimes with his messy personal life and a disregard for bureaucracy.
Sergeant Henno Garvie and his team in the SAS's Red Troop face high-risk missions abroad and at home, dealing with terrorism, hostage situations, and complex moral decisions, showcasing the personal and professional tolls of their duties.
19. "The Bill" (1984) Rotten Tomatoes score: 0%
This long-running series provides a realistic portrayal of the lives of officers at Sun Hill Police Station in London, tackling crimes and personal issues, showing the daily challenges of policing and the impact on both the community and the officers themselves.
