Fictional crime-solving just hits different in the U.K. Whether it’s those accents, the pleasantly dreary atmosphere, or all that tweed, we can’t get enough of British crime dramas. What we can get enough of is paying for loads of streaming services. Though the streaming era was meant to do away with the cable TV model, we’ve now found ourselves paying just as much as we did for live TV. However, there is a way around this dilemma.
Free streaming services like Tubi and Pluto TV, which are usually supported by ads, feature a vast library, including some of the best British crime dramas out there. (We’d also encourage you to check out Kanopy, which is ad-free and can be accessed We’ve done the hard work so you don’t have to, compiling a list of the very best British crime series that you can watch without paying a penny. Get ready to dig in — you can thank us later
Broadchurch
“Broadchurch” is often considered one of the best detective TV shows ever made, British or not. The good news? It’s streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, Plex, and Xumo Play.
The ITV drama premiered in 2013 and stars Olital town. In the first season, which remains its most acclaimed, Ellie (Colman) and Alec (Tennant) investigate the death of an 11-year-old boy, which tears apart the close-knit community
The series boasts an embarrassment of riches, from superb acting (Jodie Whittaker of “Doctor Who” plays the mother of the murdered boy in Season 1) to fascinating character studies and riveting mysteries. Though the central crimes of each season are compelling, “Broadchurch” is most interested in exploring the inner worlds of the folks surrounding the investigation, the detectives included. The show pays keen attention to the ripple effects of violent crime, and its smart writing is as heartbreaking as it is enthralling.
The Fall
Though she only measures about five feet two inches, Gillian Anderson has a powerful presence that’s put to good use in the excellent crime drama “The Fall.” One of the best serial killer shows ever made, the series follows Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Anderson) as she travels to Belfast to oversee an investigation into a serial killer. That killer is Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan, and he’s just as interested in Stella as she is in him.
The show functions as a cat-and-mouse game between two fearsome hunters, and their dynamic is electrifying, even when they’re far apart. Anderson plays Stella with both a steely confidence and an underlying sense of vulnerability, saddled with the knowledge that she’s just as susceptible to violence as Paul’s victims. Dornan, meanwhile, delivers a chilling performance as Paul, allowing us to see multiple sides of a man with true evil within him. It’s an acting tour de force, and the writing, which shows us the perspectives of both characters, is just as good.
You can watch “The Fall” for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, and The CW.
Prime Suspect
You can watch “Prime Suspect” without a subscription on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Xumo Play, and you absolutely should, because it’s an excellent yet underrated (in the U.S., at least) crime series starring the great Helen Mirren. She plays Jane Tennison, one of TV’s best British detectives, and one of the first female DCI to appear on television. Jane’s status as a breaker of glass ceilings makes her job difficult, as her male colleagues doubt her abilities and she faces opposition on all sides. Her troubling romantic prospects and reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism certainly don’t help matters.
In some ways, Jane’s characterization as a tortured hero aligns her with her male contemporaries, but a male version of Jane would make for a much less interesting show. “Prime Suspect” hones in on the sexism inherent in Jane’s workplace and the broader world around her, as well as other social ills such as racism. Jane is a fascinating character, and Mirren gives a fiery, focused performance. It’s a must-watch for British crime junkies.
Line of Duty
“Line of Duty” is a favorite of prolific writer Stephen King, and it’s easy to see why. One of the great British crime dramas, the show offers a unique take on the genre, focusing on corruption within the police force. The series follows do-gooder detective Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and undercover officer Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) as they build cases against corrupt coppers. Each season focuses on a new investigation with a potentially crooked cop at the center, while a shadowy figure known as “H” wreaks havoc over multiple seasons.
“Line of Duty” is thrilling and well-plotted, with lengthy interrogation sequences that are about as riveting as they get. The show does a great job keeping audiences guessing, with shocking revelations throughout. Yet the series also maintains a sense of nuance when it comes to characters, rarely painting its villains as outright evil and leaving room for ambiguity. With guest stars including Kelly Macdonald, Thandiwe Newton, Stephen Graham, and Keeley Hawes, there’s not a weak link to be found.
“Line of Duty” is available to stream on Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, PLEX, and The CW.
Sherlock Holmes
For many fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, there is no better Sherlock Holmes than the one portrayed by Jeremy Brett in the 1980s series produced by Granada Television. Considered the most comprehensive, faithful adaptation of Doyle’s “Sherlock Holmes” stories, Brett’s performance is unbeatable. He portrays the great detective’s mannerisms and quirks with a sense of naturalism that avoids caricature. Watson, played by David Burke and then Edward Hardwicke, is not simply a goofy sidekick or Holmes’ foil, but a formidable figure in his own right.
In a departure from lower-budget British productions of decades past, the series emphasized style in addition to substance, featuring evocative production design in its depiction of Victorian England. While adhering closely to therhaps the first time on screen, with all his complexities and faults. Like the best versions of Doyle’s work, the friendship between Holmes and Watson is frequently highlighted
The show is streaming on Tubi, Pluto TV, and Xumo Play, but be aware that its name changes from season to season. The titles are, in chronological order: “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” “The Return of Sherlock Holmes,” “The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes,” and “The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.”
