14 British Shows You Need To Watch If You Loved Gangs Of London

As fans await the second season of the highly-acclaimed Gangs of London, these similar shows are a great way to pass the time.

Gangs of London has become something of a cultural phenomenon, with the series showing the present-day struggles between rival gangs in London. In addition to receiving high viewing figures, the show has also received much critical acclaim, with Gangs of London currently holding an impressive 91% on Rotten Tomatoes.

While there is only one season released so far, there are more than enough British crime shows to keep fans of Gangs of London going until the release of a second season of the promising new TV show— and also return to once they've watched Gangs' second season.

Updated on May 28th, 2021 by Kristen Palamara: Gangs of London stunned UK crime drama fans when it debuted on Sky Atlantic and has been airing in the states on AMC for more fans to find the gritty and intricate power struggle between international gangs. Gangs of London has been renewed for a second season and although there isn't a set release date yet, most likely it will be released in 2022 and fans can return to the series soon. In the meantime, there are other British series, from older longer running series like Luther to recent miniseries like Des, that fans can enjoy. 

14 McMafia (2018-)

McMafia focuses on Alex Godman, the son of a famous Russian crime family, who was sent to grow up in England and tries to avoid his family's history. Although Alex tries to stay away from the corruption and build a life with his partner, of course, he's pulled into the chaos.

The series is also available to watch on AMC, like Gangs of London, so it should be an easy switch for any fan of Gangs.

13 Top Boy (2011-)

Top Boy delves into the lives of people living in the housing estates in east London in a gritty tense crime thriller. The series focuses on two characters, one a drug dealer who is trying to make it to the top and another struggling to survive and be independent after his mother's breakdown.

The series, available to watch on Netflix, balances dramatic gang violence with social commentary and moments of humor that should make any fan of Gangs of London happy.

12 Taboo (2017)

Taboo follows adventurer James Delaney (Tom Hardy) as he returns home to England in the 1800s to claim his family inheritance in their shipping business, but he finds that nothing is what it seems and his enemies are ready to try to steal Delaney's power in the industry.

Although the series isn't about gangs in particular, Taboo is still similar to Gangs of London as it's a British series that follows groups fighting for power.

11 Des (2020)

Des focuses on Dennis Nilsen (David Tennant) who admits to killing several people in Scotland in the 1980s. The show follows his arrest and trial and the terrifying demeanor of Nilsen.

Although Des is about a singular serial killer and based on real-life events it's still similar to Gangs of London for its intricate and engaging storytelling and power moves between the police, lawyers, and a biographer who attempt to prove Nilsen's guilt and the intriguing behavior of Nilsen.

10 Collateral (2018)

Starring John Simm, Doctor Who's Billie Piper, and Carey Mulligan, Collateral is one of the most underrated British crime thrillers of the past decade. Standing at only four episodes long, the series is a breeze to watch so there's really no excuse to not check this one out.

The series starts with the murder of a pizza delivery boy and quickly develops to show a complex web of characters, each appearing to be connected to the event.

9 London Spy (2015)

Starring Ben Wishaw, Jim Broadbent, Charlotte Rampling, and Mark Gatiss, London Spy is a five-part series that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish with its intelligent and thrilling plot.

London Spy follows Ben Wishaw’s Danny as he unravels the mystery surrounding the death of his lover, unwittingly throwing himself into the world of espionage in the process.

8 Giri/Haji (2019)

Another entry on this list that is fairly underrated, at least internationally. Giri/Haji is a British/Japanese crime drama that follows a Japanese detective who is sent to London to search for his brother, who had been previously assumed to be dead.

The series was a critical success in the UK, with the series holding 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was praised it for its exciting and intelligent plot with fantastic performances from the cast.

7 Strangers (AKA White Dragon) (2018)

Starring John Simm, Katie Leung, Kate Alexander, and Anthony Wong, Strangers— originally titled White Dragon— follows a British professor as he travels to Hong Kong after his wife is killed in a car accident.

However, his wife’s death is far from a straightforward affair and the professor begins to uncover a complex web of lies and secrets from his wife’s life, all of which have huge implications for both the professor and Hong Kong as a whole.

6 The Stranger (2020)

Starring Richard Armitage (Castlevania), Hannah John-Kamen, and Anthony Head, The Stranger follows a husband his wife disappears after the appearance of a mysterious stranger. The husband (Armitage) searches for his wife while also uncovering a complex network of lies and secrets in the local area.

The series is one of the most interesting Netflix crime originals of the past few years and is certainly worthy of a watch for fans of crime and British TV.

5 River (2015)

River is one of the most compelling and unique detective shows of recent years. Starring Stellan Skarsgård and Nicola Walker, the series follows the titular River as he tries to overcome the guilt of his former partner’s death while also trying to solve a complex case.

The series is both visually stunning and strongly performed by the cast, making it a must-see for any fans of the detective genre.

4 Peaky Blinders (2013-)

Starring Cillian Murphy, Joe Cole, Tom Hardy, and Paddy Considine, Peaky Blinders follows the actions of the fictional Shelby gang who operate in Birmingham in the immediate aftermath of the devastating First World War.

The series is one of the most popular TV shows currently running, with Peaky Blinders even managing to pick up the BAFTA for Best Drama in 2018. Fans of Gangs of London are almost guaranteed to enjoy the seminal Peaky Blinders. 

3 Line Of Duty (2012-)

Line of Duty is a British procedural detective show that follows Steve Arnott as he attempts to uncover corruption in the police force, leading to some of the most tense and compelling plot points in British police procedural shows.

The series is the most popular BBC Two series of all time, with the series drawing in over 4 million viewers, receiving several awards, and even being included in many lists of the best BBC Two shows of all time.

2 Luther (2010-)

Starring Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson, Luther is one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful British crime shows of the past few decades. Elba’s John Luther is a rash-but-brilliant detective who solves grisly London murders while also trying to fix his personal life.

Currently standing at 5 seasons, Luther is easy to binge-watch and is a must-see for fans of British crime shows. While Idris Elba doesn’t believe the series will receive another season, he is hoping for a follow-up movie.

1 Marcella (2016-)

Starring Anna Friel as the titular Marcella, this show follows a brilliant detective as she tries to balance her difficult personal life and fragile mental state with her stressful life as a detective investigating a murder case in London.

The series currently has three seasons, with the most recent being released in early 2020. In a similar manner to Luther, the series is a gritty, intelligent, and character-driven drama that is guaranteed to keep the viewer stay glued to their TV screen.

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