20 Lavish Period Dramas To Watch Right Now: The Ultimate Guide For Downton Abbey Fans (2025 Update)

If you’ve ever felt a pang of nostalgia after finishing your latest rewatch of *Downton Abbey*, you are not alone. The desire to escape into a world of grand manor houses, intricate class structures, sweeping historical change, and impeccable costumes is a powerful one. Finding a replacement that captures the same blend of 'upstairs' aristocratic drama and 'downstairs' servant intrigue can be a challenge, but fortunately, the world of historical drama series is richer than ever in late 2025. This comprehensive guide is your essential streaming roadmap, updated with the most current information, including the status of Julian Fellowes' latest hits, to help you find your next obsession. We have curated a list of the most lavish and compelling costume dramas that share the DNA of the beloved British masterpiece, focusing on family sagas, historical settings, and the complex upstairs/downstairs dynamic.

The Julian Fellowes Universe: Your Closest Replacements

No list of shows like *Downton Abbey* is complete without the works of its creator, Julian Fellowes. These series are the most direct spiritual successors, offering the same meticulous attention to class, dialogue, and historical detail.

The Gilded Age (2022–Present)

Set in 1880s New York City, *The Gilded Age* is the American counterpart to *Downton Abbey*, transplanting the clash of old money versus new money across the Atlantic. The series centers on Marian Brook, a young woman who moves from rural Pennsylvania to live with her wealthy, old-money aunts in a lavish New York mansion.

• Why You'll Love It: It offers the same opulent sets and intricate social rules as *Downton*, but with a fresh focus on the ruthless ambition of the American aristocracy. The upstairs/downstairs dynamic is strong, particularly with the introduction of new money industrialist Bertha Russell and her staff.
• Current Status: Excellent news for fans—*The Gilded Age* has been officially renewed for Season 4 by HBO, confirming its continued success as a major historical drama series.

Belgravia (2020)

*Belgravia* is a limited series also written by Julian Fellowes and based on his novel. It begins with the Duchess of Richmond's ball on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and then jumps 25 years later to London’s fashionable Belgravia district.

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• Why You'll Love It: This show is a masterclass in social climbing, secrets, and the entanglement of two families from different social classes. It’s a shorter, tighter story than *Downton*, but delivers the same high-stakes drama and elegant period feel.
• Setting: Regency and Victorian London, focusing on the newly rich Trenchard family and the established Brockenhurst family.

The Upstairs/Downstairs Dynamic: Shows Focused on Class and Service

The heart of *Downton Abbey* was the symbiotic and often tense relationship between the Crawley family and their dedicated staff. These shows explore similar themes of service, hierarchy, and life below stairs.

Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975 & 2010–2012)

The original and arguably the most direct inspiration for *Downton Abbey*. The classic 1970s series and its 2010 revival both follow the lives of the wealthy Bellamy family and their servants at 165 Eaton Place in London.

• Why You'll Love It: It is the definitive upstairs/downstairs drama, covering major historical events like the sinking of the Titanic and World War I, just like *Downton*. The newer version is a high-production costume drama that feels very familiar.
• Era: Spans from the Edwardian era through the 1930s.

Mr. Selfridge (2013–2016)

This series focuses on the real-life story of Harry Gordon Selfridge and the founding of the iconic London department store, Selfridges. While not a manor house drama, it perfectly captures the changing social landscape of the Edwardian era and the rise of a new commercial class.

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• Why You'll Love It: It’s a fantastic look at the early 20th century, showcasing the fashion, ambition, and social shifts that defined the era, with plenty of personal drama and romance.

The Duchess of Duke Street (1976–1977)

An often-overlooked gem, this series tells the story of Louisa Leyton, who rises from humble beginnings as a cook to become the proprietor of a prestigious London hotel, the Bentinck, serving royalty and high society. This provides a unique perspective on the class system.

• Why You'll Love It: It offers a strong, ambitious female lead and a fascinating glimpse into the hospitality world of the time, often crossing the line between the masters and the servants.

Sweeping Sagas and Historical Escapism: Lavish Historical Drama Series

If your main draw to *Downton Abbey* is the sheer scale, the romance, and the feeling of being transported to a different time, these lavish British historical drama series are the perfect binge-watch.

Poldark (2015–2019)

Set in late 18th-century Cornwall, this series is a beautiful, romantic saga following Ross Poldark as he returns home from the American Revolutionary War to find his life in ruins. It is a story of family struggle, economic hardship, and passionate romance.

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• Why You'll Love It: It features stunning landscapes, a compelling central romance, and a strong focus on the struggles of a landed family trying to maintain their status, much like the Crawleys.
• Genre: Romantic Historical Drama, Family Saga.

The Crown (2016–Present)

While focused on the Royal Family, *The Crown* is the ultimate high-budget, high-stakes British period drama. It chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to the modern era, providing a fascinating look at the most powerful family in Britain.

• Why You'll Love It: The production value is unmatched, the historical context is deep, and it explores the intense pressure of tradition and duty on a family, a theme familiar to *Downton* fans.

Victoria (2016–2019)

This series follows the early life of Queen Victoria, from her ascension to the throne at age 18 through her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert. It is a vibrant and intimate Victorian drama series.

• Why You'll Love It: It’s a gorgeous, romantic look at a young woman navigating power and love in a world of strict social constraints. It’s perfect for those who enjoy the political and romantic intrigue of the upper echelons.

The Buccaneers (2023–Present)

Based on the unfinished novel by Edith Wharton, *The Buccaneers* is a newer, more vibrant take on the period drama. It follows four wealthy American heiresses who travel to London in the 1870s to secure aristocratic British husbands.

• Why You'll Love It: It offers a transatlantic clash of cultures, similar to *The Gilded Age*, but with a younger, more rebellious energy. The costumes and lavish settings are spectacular.

Deeper Cuts: Underrated Period Dramas for the True Aficionado

For those who have already exhausted the major titles, these lesser-known or classic period dramas will satisfy your craving for high-quality storytelling and historical immersion.

• Call the Midwife (2012–Present): Set in the poor East End of London in the 1950s and 60s, this series is less about aristocracy and more about community and social history. It’s an incredibly heartwarming and often heartbreaking look at the lives of midwives and nuns, offering a powerful contrast to the gilded cages of the upper class.
• Bleak House (2005): This BBC adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel is a highly acclaimed Victorian drama series. It masterfully weaves together the lives of people from all social strata—the aristocracy, the poor, and the legal profession—all centered around a drawn-out court case.
• Howards End (2017): A beautiful miniseries adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel. It explores the shifting class boundaries and social mores of turn-of-the-century Edwardian England through the intertwined lives of three families: the wealthy Wilcoxes, the idealistic Schlegels, and the working-class Basts.
• Middlemarch (1994): An essential BBC adaptation of George Eliot's novel, set in a fictional English town in the 1830s. It’s a deep dive into the lives of multiple characters, focusing on marriage, ambition, and the constraints placed upon women.
• The Forsyte Saga (2002–2003): Based on the Nobel Prize-winning novels, this series follows the wealthy, upper-middle-class Forsyte family from the late Victorian era through the 1920s. It’s a multi-generational family saga of property, passion, and betrayal.
• Manor House (2003): A unique entry, this is a reality television experiment where a modern family and a group of volunteers live for three months as a wealthy Edwardian family and their servants, providing a fascinating, unscripted look at the upstairs/downstairs dynamic.