If you finished Bridgerton and immediately wanted more ballgowns, secret romances, and dramatic glances across crowded ballrooms, you are not alone. Period dramas have a magical way of pulling you into a world of corsets, castles, and complicated love stories.
Luckily, there are plenty of shows and films that deliver the same mix of romance, gorgeous costumes, and juicy drama. Here are 17 period dramas worth adding to your watchlist right now.
1. Downton Abbey
Few shows balance upstairs glamour with downstairs heart quite like Downton Abbey. Set in early 20th-century England, it follows the wealthy Crawley family and the servants who keep their magnificent estate running.
World War I, scandal, and shifting social classes all collide in the most compelling ways. With six seasons packed full of romance, heartbreak, and stunning costumes, this series is basically a warm hug wrapped in pearls and drama.
2. Pride and Prejudice (1995)
Colin Firth emerging from a lake in a wet white shirt is basically a cultural milestone, and that alone is reason enough to watch this iconic miniseries. Based on Jane Austen’s beloved novel, it follows the sharp-witted Elizabeth Bennet and the brooding Mr. Darcy through misunderstandings, pride, and slow-burning love.
The chemistry between the leads is electric, and the Regency-era setting feels lush and alive. Austen fans consider this adaptation practically perfect.
3. The Crown
Not all period dramas need ballrooms to be breathtaking. The Crown takes viewers inside Buckingham Palace to explore the private life of Queen Elizabeth II, from her early reign through decades of political storms and personal sacrifice.
The costumes are jaw-dropping, the performances are powerful, and the behind-the-scenes look at royal life feels surprisingly relatable. If Bridgerton made you love aristocratic drama, The Crown takes that feeling to a whole new level.
4. Outlander
Imagine falling through a magical stone circle and waking up in 18th-century Scotland, right in the middle of a Highland rebellion. That is exactly what happens to Claire Randall, a World War II nurse whose life gets gloriously complicated.
Outlander blends time travel, fierce romance, and rich Scottish history into something completely addictive. The landscapes are stunning, the love story is intense, and the action never lets up.
It is bold, sweeping, and wildly entertaining.
5. The Great
Who says history has to be serious? The Great is a hilariously sharp, wildly irreverent look at how Catherine the Great rose to power in 18th-century Russia.
The costumes are outrageous, the dialogue is razor-sharp, and Elle Fanning is absolutely magnetic in the lead role.
It pokes fun at royal absurdity while still delivering real emotional punches. Fans of Bridgerton who enjoy their drama served with a side of comedy will absolutely love this one.
6. Sanditon
Based on an unfinished Jane Austen novel, Sanditon brings all the romantic tension and witty social commentary Austen fans adore. The story follows ambitious Charlotte Heywood as she arrives in a fashionable new seaside resort and gets tangled up in love, class struggles, and secrets.
The chemistry between Charlotte and the brooding Sidney Parker is genuinely swoon-worthy. If Bridgerton left you craving more Regency romance with a feisty heroine, Sanditon delivers in every episode.
7. Victoria
Queen Victoria was only 18 years old when she took the throne, navigating a world that constantly underestimated her. This lush drama follows her early reign, her fiery personality, and her deeply romantic marriage to Prince Albert.
Jenna Coleman brings so much warmth and spark to the role that you genuinely root for Victoria in every episode. The costumes are gorgeous, the palace settings are lavish, and the love story between Victoria and Albert is truly touching.
8. North and South (2004)
If you thought Mr. Darcy set the gold standard for brooding love interests, meet Mr. Thornton from North and South. This BBC miniseries is set during England’s Industrial Revolution and follows Margaret Hale as she clashes with a proud mill owner in a northern factory town.
The slow-burn tension between them is absolutely agonizing in the best possible way. The final scene on the train station platform has made viewers swoon for over two decades.
9. Emma (2020)
Bright, playful, and absolutely stunning to look at, the 2020 film adaptation of Emma is like a moving painting. Anya Taylor-Joy plays Emma Woodhouse, a clever young woman who loves playing matchmaker for everyone except herself.
The color palette is candy-sweet, the costumes are extraordinary, and the humor is delightfully dry. It captures Austen’s sharp wit while wrapping everything in visual beauty that feels almost too gorgeous to be real.
Absolutely worth watching more than once.
10. Poldark
Ross Poldark rides dramatically across Cornish clifftops on horseback, and honestly that image alone sold millions of viewers on this show. Set in 18th-century Cornwall, the series follows a war veteran who returns home to find his estate in ruins and his sweetheart engaged to another man.
There is romance, rebellion, class conflict, and stunning coastal scenery packed into every episode. Aidan Turner plays Ross with such raw intensity that it is nearly impossible to look away.
11. Reign
History class never looked this dramatic. Reign follows the young Mary Queen of Scots as she navigates the treacherous French royal court, full of scheming nobles, dark prophecies, and complicated love triangles.
It takes plenty of historical liberties, but that is honestly part of the fun. The fashion is a wild mix of Renaissance inspiration and modern style, the romances are intense, and the court intrigue keeps every episode unpredictable.
Teens and adults alike find it completely addictive.
12. Gentleman Jack
Anne Lister was ahead of her time in the most spectacular way. Based on the real coded diaries of a 19th-century Yorkshire landowner, Gentleman Jack tells the story of a bold, unconventional woman who refused to hide who she was or who she loved.
Suranne Jones plays Anne with magnetic confidence that makes every scene crackle with energy. The wit is sharp, the romance is moving, and the Yorkshire landscapes are absolutely breathtaking.
A genuinely refreshing period drama.
13. Versailles
Palace of Versailles was basically the most glamorous, scandalous address in all of Europe, and this French drama captures every glittering, dangerous moment of it. The show follows the young King Louis XIV as he builds his legendary palace and tightens his grip on power.
The costumes are jaw-dropping, the political scheming is relentless, and the romantic entanglements are endlessly messy. Bridgerton fans who enjoy high-stakes social maneuvering wrapped in stunning visuals will feel right at home here.
14. Little Dorrit (2008)
Charles Dickens knew how to craft a story that tugs at your heart while exposing society’s darkest corners. Little Dorrit follows Amy Dorrit, a young woman who has grown up inside a debtors prison and must navigate a world that judges people entirely by their wealth.
The romance that slowly develops between Amy and Arthur Clennam is tender and deeply earned. This BBC adaptation is beautifully acted and reminds you that period dramas can be both moving and socially powerful.
15. The Gilded Age
Created by the same mastermind behind Downton Abbey, The Gilded Age transplants that same addictive mix of class tension and sparkling social drama to 1880s New York City. Old money families clash with newly rich industrialists in the most deliciously petty ways imaginable.
The costumes are extraordinary and the ensemble cast is stacked with talent. For anyone who loved watching Bridgerton’s ton tear each other apart with polite smiles, this show serves that energy in an American flavor.
16. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Emma Thompson won an Oscar for adapting this Jane Austen masterpiece, and every minute of the film justifies that award. The story follows the Dashwood sisters, practical Elinor and passionate Marianne, as they search for love and financial security after their father dies.
Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman both deliver unforgettable performances as very different kinds of romantic heroes. It is warm, witty, occasionally heartbreaking, and one of the most beautifully crafted Austen adaptations ever put on screen.
17. Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
What if magic was real during the Regency era, and two very different magicians had to figure out how to save England from supernatural disaster? That is the wild and wonderful premise of this underrated BBC miniseries.
Set in the same Napoleonic War period as Bridgerton, it blends gorgeous period drama aesthetics with genuinely creepy fantasy elements. The world-building is rich, the performances are superb, and the dark fairy tale atmosphere makes it unlike anything else on this list.