This list of the best British detective series is ranked by British TV fans just like you! Who doesn't love a good detective series? It seems like every few months Britain is putting out the newest, most buzzed about detective show on television. This list ranks the all-time top British mystery series, from classic series like Poirot to modern hits like Luther, so you'll always know what to binge watch next. What are the best British detective series of all time tackling the best weekly whodunit mysteries?
From Sherlock to classic British detective shows like Agatha Christie's Marple, these great British series will have you solving crimes and mysteries along with your favorite TV detectives. Many of the shows listed here are BBC detective series, while other British mysteries debuted on different British networks. In the states, you can catch many of them on your PBS station, while others are streaming on Netflix or available through Acorn TV. No matter how you watch television, you know detective series are some of the best British TV shows out there.
This list features the most popular British detective series including Sherlock, The Last Detective, Agatha Christie’s Marple, Foyle’s War, Wallander, and Inspector Lewis. Don't see the good British detective shows you love on the list? Add them for other TV fans to vote!
1
6,7182,255Foyle's War
Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle WeeksPremiered: 2002
This series is a British detective drama television series set during and shortly after WWII,... more2
5,6641,844Shetland
Douglas Henshall, Alison O'DonnellPremiered: 2013
Shetland is a BBC Scotland crime drama television series starring Douglas Henshall as... more3
6,6412,430Agatha Christie's Poirot
David Suchet, Hugh FraserPremiered: 1989
Agatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that aired on ITV from 8 January 1989... more4
8,2672,578Endeavour
Shaun Evans, Roger AllamPremiered: 2012
Endeavour is a British television detective drama series. It is a prequel to the long-running... more5
7,3243,335Father Brown
Mark Williams, Sorcha CusackPremiered: 2013
Father Brown is a British television period drama which began airing on BBC One on 14 January... more6
6,3692,054Vera
Brenda Blethyn, Jon MorrisonPremiered: 2011
Vera is a British detective television series based on the works of crime author Ann Cleeves.... more7
3,9491,782Miss Marple
Joan Hickson, Gwen WatfordPremiered: 1984
Miss Marple is a British television series based on the Miss Marple murder mystery novels by... more8
6,6412,553Inspector Morse
John Thaw, Peter WoodthorpePremiered: 1987
Inspector Morse is a British detective drama television series based on a series of novels by... more9
7,2092,481Broadchurch
David Tennant, Olivia ColmanPremiered: 2013
Broadchurch (ITV, 2013) is a British serial crime drama television series created by Chris... more10
4,5241,996Inspector George Gently
Martin Shaw, Lee InglebyPremiered: 2007
Inspector George Gently is a British television series produced by Company Pictures for BBC... more11
7,0962,033Inspector Lewis
Kevin Whately, Laurence FoxPremiered: 2006
Lewis is a British television detective drama produced for ITV. A spin-off from Inspector... more12
2,9531,344Sherlock Holmes
Jeremy Brett, Charles GrayPremiered: 1984
Sherlock Holmes is the name given to the TV series of Sherlock Holmes adaptations produced by... more13
8,1383,788Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin FreemanPremiered: 2010
Sherlock (BBC One, 2010) is a British crime television series created by Steven Moffat and... more14
5,4992,757Grantchester
James Norton, Robson GreenPremiered: 2014
Grantchester is a British ITV detective drama, set in the 1950s Cambridgeshire village of the... more15
3,5321,770The Bletchley Circle
Anna Maxwell Martin, Rachael StirlingPremiered: 2012
The Bletchley Circle is a television mystery drama miniseries, set in 1952–53, about four... more16
8,1122,901Midsomer Murders
Suzi Quatro, John NettlesPremiered: 1997
This is a British television detective drama that has aired on ITV since 1997. The show is... more17
4,6032,258Happy Valley
Sarah Lancashire, Steve PembertonPremiered: 2014
Happy Valley (BBC One, 2014) is a British crime drama television series created by Sally... more18
3,7642,059Agatha Christie's Marple
Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenziePremiered: 2004
Agatha Christie's Marple is a British ITV television series based on the books and short... more19
4,7892,826Death in Paradise
Kris Marshall, Danny John-JulesPremiered: 2011
Death in Paradise (BBC One, 2011) is a British-French crime drama television series created by... more20
4,0592,011DCI Banks
Stephen Tompkinson, Jack DeamPremiered: 2010
DCI Banks is a British crime drama series produced by Left Bank Pictures for the ITV network.... more21
2,9731,270Unforgotten
Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor EvePremiered: 2015
Unforgotten is a British crime drama television series, which initially aired on ITV on 8... more22
3,1811,858Rosemary & Thyme
Felicity Kendal, Pam FerrisPremiered: 2003
Rosemary & Thyme is a British television mystery series starring Felicity Kendal and Pam... more23
3,1991,795A Touch of Frost
David Jason, Bruce AlexanderPremiered: 1992
A Touch of Frost is a television detective series produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV... more24
3,2981,717Line of Duty
Keeley Hawes, Lennie JamesPremiered: 2012
Line of Duty is a British police drama, created by Jed Mercurio, which aired on BBC Two 26... more25
2,8671,897The Inspector Lynley Mysteries
Nathaniel Parker, Sharon SmallPremiered: 2001
The Inspector Lynley Mysteries is a series of BBC television programmes about Detective... more