Best British Mystery TV Shows

This page is updated regularly. Subscribe, so you don't miss new recommendations. The list of "Best British Mystery TV Shows" contains films with the following parameters. Style: detective, crime drama, realistic, serious, suspenseful and tense. Plot: investigation, police, law enforcement, murder, police detective, police investigation, murder mystery, whodunit, murder investigation and police procedural. Genre: Crime, Mystery and Drama. Country: UK, USA and France.
Best British Mystery TV Shows
Best British Mystery TV Shows
TOP TV Shows: Endeavour (2012), Vera (2011), Broadchurch (2013), Midsomer Murders (1997), Line of Duty (2012), Lewis (2006), Unforgotten (2015), Grace (2021), Shetland (2013), Father Brown (2013), No Offence (2015), Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989), River (2015), The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001), Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996), Death in Paradise (2011), Inspector Morse (1987), Sherlock (2010), Agatha Christie's Marple (2004), Marcella (2016).

List of Best TV Shows

Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie
 8.6
 33K
Endeavour (2012)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 89 min.
TV show
Story: The early days of a young Endeavour Morse, whose experiences as a detective constable with the Oxford City Police will ultimately shape his future.
Style: serious, detective, intellectual, realistic, atmospheric ...
Plot: police, police detective, investigator, murderer, police investigation, talented, coworker, british, oxford, murder, intelligence, bodies ...
Time: 60s, future, 20th century
Place: england
Is relevant ?
 8.1
 19K
Vera (2011)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: 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 ...
Style: realistic, serious, detective, crime drama, captivating ...
Audience: chick flick, boys' night
Plot: female detective, police investigation, crime investigation, police detective, murder, who done it, murder mystery, british police, law enforcement, investigation, police procedural, right hand man ...
Time: future, 2010s, 2020s, 21st century
Place: england, northern england, europe
Is relevant ?
 8.4
 126K
Broadchurch (2013)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 48 min.
TV show
Story: The murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart.
Style: emotional, tense, realistic, clever, serious ...
Audience: teens
Plot: murder investigation, police investigation, murder, police detective, twists and turns, grief, multiple suspects, small town, reluctant partners, legal, uncover truth, murderer ...
Time: 2010s, 21st century
Place: england
Is relevant ?
Midsomer Murders (1997)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: 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.
Style: atmospheric, detective, realistic, serious, suspenseful ...
Plot: murder, police detective, murder investigation, investigation, who done it, whodunit, detective inspector, multiple suspects, human nature, twists and turns, police investigation, law enforcement ...
Time: 20th century, future, 90s, 2010s, 2000s ...
Place: england, europe
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
 8.7
 69K
Line of Duty (2012)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story: Steve Arnott is a young officer who’s fallen foul of his superiors for refusing to help in the cover-up of an operation that ended in the shooting of an innocent father. He seems ideal to join AC-12, an anti-corruption police unit, just as it ...
Style: realistic, tense, serious, crime drama, detective ...
Plot: police corruption, honest law enforcer, corruption, female police detective, dirty cop, police detective, police, british police, policewoman, twists and turns, law enforcement, law enforcer ...
Time: future, 2010s, 21st century
Place: england, britain, united kingdom
Is relevant ?
 8.2
 16K
Lewis (2006)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: Inspector Robert Lewis and Sergeant James Hathaway solve the tough cases that the learned inhabitants of Oxford throw at them.
Style: realistic, clever, detective, serious, suspenseful ...
Plot: police detective, murder investigation, crime investigation, sergeant, murder, investigator, multiple suspects, police investigation, detective inspector, law enforcement, suspicion, criminal ...
Time: 2000s, 2010s, 21st century
Place: england, europe
Is relevant ?
 8.4
 30K
Unforgotten (2015)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: 'Unforgotten' follows modern police team DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunny Khan, who gradually unravel long-forgotten secrets which have a dramatic impact on their investigation and the four potential suspects. The slow revelation of the ...
Style: detective, serious, realistic, crime drama, tense ...
Plot: murder investigation, murder mystery, murder, police investigation, investigation, police, cold case, missing person, female police detective, uncover truth, father daughter relationship, haunted by the past ...
Time: future, 2010s, 70s, 21st century
Place: england, london
Is relevant ?
 7.4
 7K
Grace (2021)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: Brighton based Detective Superintendent Roy Grace is a hard-working police officer who has given his life to the job, but his career is currently at rock bottom. He’s fixated by the disappearance of his beloved wife, Sandy, and running enquiries ...
Style: detective, captivating, suspense, tense, disturbing
Plot: detective inspector, police partner, police, british police, police detective, unsolved crime, forensics, sleuth, crime solving, fighting crime, partners against crime, investigation ...
Time: future
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
 8.3
 25K
Shetland (2013)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story: 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 ...
Style: atmospheric, tense, detective, serious, stylized ...
Plot: police, investigation, police detective, murder investigation, island, police investigation, who done it, multiple suspects, british police, murder, detective inspector, whodunit ...
Time: future, 2020s, 2010s, 21st century
Place: scotland
Is relevant ?
 7.8
 15K
Father Brown (2013)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 52 min.
TV show
Story: 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.
Style: serious, captivating, intellectual, suspenseful, detective ...
Plot: investigation, who done it, amateur detective, clergy, danger, murder, uncover truth, priest, riddles and clues, friendship, social relations, law enforcement ...
Time: 50s, 1950s, 20th century
Place: england
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 6K
No Offence (2015)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 42 min.
TV show
Story: Keeping these streets clean is a Herculean task, enough to demoralize even the keenest rookie – but there’s a reason why this hotchpotch of committed cops are on this force, on this side of town. Drug labs, arsonists, neo-Nazis and notorious ...
Style: semi serious, realistic, humorous, detective, dark comedy ...
Plot: detective inspector, policewoman, british police, police station, serial killer, workplace, workplace situations, police, murder investigation, law enforcement, fighting crime, police investigation ...
Time: 2010s, 21st century
Place: northern england, england, manchester
Is relevant ?
Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 100 min.
TV show
Story: 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.
Style: clever, detective, realistic, captivating, serious ...
Audience: kids
Plot: private detective, investigation, whodunit, murder, murder mystery, who done it, private investigator, murder investigation, danger, multiple suspects, uncover truth, riddles and clues ...
Time: 1930s, 20th century
Place: england, united kingdom, london
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 27K
River (2015)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story: John River, a brilliant police officer whose genius and fault-line is the fragility of his mind - a man haunted by the murder victims whose cases he must lay to rest
Style: serious, suspenseful, detective, crime drama, surprise ending ...
Plot: police detective, police, police investigation, hallucination, twists and turns, haunted by the past, murder investigation, loneliness, police procedural, able to see the dead, nordic, partner ...
Time: future, 2010s, 21st century
Place: england, britain
Is relevant ?
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries (2001)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: Inspector Lynley TV Series
Style: detective, serious, realistic, suspenseful, crime drama ...
Plot: police detective, murder investigation, police, detective inspector, murder, investigation, law enforcement, police investigation, fighting crime, inspector, homicide detective, partner ...
Time: 21st century
Place: london, england, europe
Is relevant ?
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996)
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance
Country: UK
Duration: 75 min.
TV show
Story: Hetty Wainthropp Investigates is a genteel British crime/comedy drama television programme that aired from 1996 to 1998 on BBC One. Patricia Routledge starred as the titular character, Derek Benfield as her patient husband Robert, Dominic Monaghan ...
Style: detective, retro, crime drama, semi serious, realistic
Plot: amateur detective, female detective, aging, private detective, investigation, sleuth, retirement, police detective, homeless, partners against crime, law enforcement, society ...
Time: 20th century, 90s
Place: england, northern england, europe, yorkshire
Is relevant ?
Death in Paradise (2011)
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, France
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story: Detective Inspector Richard Poole is transferred to Sainte Marie, an island in the Caribbean. Totally unsuited to the Caribbean way of life, Richard hates the sun, sea and sand and isn't used to the Sainte Marie style of policing. Working with ...
Style: realistic, captivating, stylized, semi serious, detective ...
Plot: investigation, police detective, police investigation, lifestyle change, murder, island, whodunit, investigator, suspicion, new job, multiple suspects, murder investigation ...
Time: 2010s, 2020s, 21st century
Place: caribbean, fictional island
Is relevant ?
Inspector Morse (1987)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 100 min.
TV show
Story: 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 ...
Style: detective, realistic, sincere, suspense, atmospheric ...
Plot: crime investigation, police detective, murder, detective inspector, murderer, police, investigation, whodunit, inspector, police procedural, murder mystery, criminal ...
Time: 20th century, 80s, future, 90s
Place: england, europe, italy, australia
Is relevant ?
 9.1
 990K
Sherlock (2010)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 88 min.
TV show
Story: A modern update finds the famous sleuth and his doctor partner solving crime in 21st century London.
Style: clever, detective, witty, captivating, serious ...
Audience: teens
Plot: sherlock holmes, investigation, private detective, murder mystery, genius, mastermind, friendship, british, murder, mind game, riddles and clues, prodigy ...
Time: 2000s, 2010s, 21st century
Place: london, england, scotland yard, afghanistan, britain ...
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
Agatha Christie's Marple (2004)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 93 min.
TV show
Story: The show follows 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 ...
Style: clever, serious, realistic, detective, suspenseful ...
Plot: murder mystery, female detective, who done it, whodunit, uncover truth, riddles and clues, murder investigation, female protagonist, amateur detective, murder, twists and turns, investigation ...
Time: 1950s, 20th century, post world war two
Place: england, united kingdom, europe
Is relevant ?
 7.4
 37K
Marcella (2016)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: Marcella is shocked to the core of her being when her husband Jason leaves her unexpectedly, confessing he no longer loves her. Heartbroken, Marcella returns to the Met’s Murder Squad. Ten years ago Marcella gave up her fast-tracked police career ...
Style: detective, crime drama, enigmatic, tense, captivating ...
Plot: female protagonist, serial killer, female detective, police, murder, british police, murder investigation, homicide detective, female police officer, female police detective, investigation, ex husband ex wife relationship ...
Time: 2010s, 21st century
Place: london
Is relevant ?
 8.6
 18K
Foyle's War (2002)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, War
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: 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 ...
Style: clever, serious, captivating, detective, suspenseful ...
Audience: family friendly
Plot: world war two, investigation, police investigation, police detective, war crime, spy, detective inspector, police, espionage, homicide detective, whodunit, murder investigation ...
Time: 1940s, 20th century
Place: england, europe, new mexico, london
Is relevant ?
Prime Suspect (1991)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 207 min.
TV show
Story: A female police detective investigates a series of serial murders while dealing with sexist hostility from her male comrades.
Style: detective, suspense, suspenseful, tense, atmospheric ...
Plot: serial killer, police investigation, female detective, murder mystery, police detective, murder, police, obsession, investigation, sexism, uncover truth, murder investigation ...
Time: 90s, 20th century
Place: england, britain, europe, london
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 11K
Scott & Bailey (2011)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: D.C. Rachel Bailey and D.C. Janet Scott have a robust and engaging friendship which enables them to draw upon each other’s strengths and investigate murders for the Manchester Metropolitan Police.
Style: tense, serious, suspenseful, realistic, detective ...
Plot: police detective, policewoman, female detective, police investigation, female partner, relationship vs career, police, partners against crime, law enforcement, police procedural, female protagonist, best friend ...
Time: future, 2010s, 21st century
Place: england, united kingdom, manchester, europe
Is relevant ?
Related movie lists
McDonald & Dodds (2020)
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: Two detectives, DCI McDonald and DS Dodds, who seemingly have nothing in common, are thrown together and forge a rumbustious friendship and entertaining partnership in this two-part British detective drama miniseries set in modern-day Bath.
Style: tense, detective, suspense, disturbing, intellectual ...
Plot: female police detective, police, law enforcement, odd couple, police detective, murder mystery, detective sergeant, partner, who done it, partners against crime, friendship, uncover truth ...
Time: future
Place: europe
Is relevant ?
 7.9
 17K
Grantchester (2014)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: Drama series set in 1953, against the backdrop of the real hamlet of Grantchester. The drama focuses upon the life of Sidney Chambers, a charismatic, charming clergyman who turns investigative vicar when one of his parishioners dies in suspicious ...
Style: tense, serious, detective, crime drama, period piece ...
Plot: investigation, murder, murder mystery, partners against crime, priest, police detective, village, village life, amateur detective, clergy, friendship, haunted by the past ...
Time: 50s, 20th century, 1950s, year 1953, 1940s
Place: england, united kingdom, europe, london
Is relevant ?
 7.7
 9K
DCI Banks (2010)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: A thrilling drama based on the novels by Peter Robinson. Stephen Tompkinson and Andrea Lowe star as the tenacious and stubborn Chief Inspector Alan Banks and the feisty and headstrong Detective Sergeant Annie Cabbot.
Style: detective, realistic, tense, rough, serious ...
Plot: police detective, murder investigation, murder mystery, law enforcement, police procedural, serial killer, police investigation, police, policewoman, female partner, murder, coma ...
Time: future, 21st century
Place: england, yorkshire
Is relevant ?
 7.6
 15K
Hinterland (2013)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min.
TV show
Story: Tom Mathias comes to Aberystwyth having abandoned his life in London. He's a brilliant but troubled man. Despite his faults he is an excellent detective, who knows that the key to solving the crime lies not in where you look for truth, but how ...
Style: detective, serious, tense, bleak, crime drama ...
Plot: police, investigation, homicide detective, hidden truth, murder mystery, forensics, law enforcement, police investigation, partners against crime, partner, crime investigation, small town ...
Time: 21st century
Place: wales, europe
Is relevant ?
 8.0
 9K
New Tricks (2003)
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story: New Tricks is a British comedy-drama that follows the work of the fictional Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad of the Metropolitan Police Service. Originally led by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, it is made up of retired police officers ...
Style: detective, crime drama, serious, realistic, captivating ...
Plot: police detective, police investigation, police, murder mystery, investigation, elderly, law enforcement, crime investigation, old age, boss, partners against crime, uncover truth ...
Time: 2000s, 2010s, 21st century
Place: europe, england
Is relevant ?
Murdoch Mysteries (2008)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: Canada, UK
Duration: 48 min.
TV show
Story: A Victorian-era Toronto detective uses then-cutting edge forensic techniques to solve crimes, with the assistance of a female coroner who is also struggling for recognition in the face of tradition, based on the books by Maureen Jennings.
Style: atmospheric, clever, detective, stylized, historical drama ...
Audience: boys' night
Plot: police detective, partners against crime, uncover truth, riddles and clues, police investigation, twists and turns, forensics, unconventional method, who done it, murder investigation, victorian england, morgue ...
Time: edwardian era, victorian era, 19th century, future, 1890s
Place: toronto ontario canada, canada, america
Is relevant ?
 7.6
 10K
Manhunt (2019)
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama, History, Mystery, Thriller
Country: UK
Duration: 45 min.
TV show
Story: The true story of London Metropolitan police detective Colin Sutton's manhunt for serial killer Levi Bellfield.
Style: detective, suspense, exciting, rough, disturbing ...
Plot: police detective, serial killer, murder, police, true crime, criminal, victim, brutality, blood, who done it, law, law enforcement ...
Time: future
Place: london
Is relevant ?
Watch Trailers From This List to Choose a Movie
Related movie lists