Step back into history with high society, scandal, and stunning costumes
If you’re captivated by the world of The Gilded Age — all its elegant ballrooms, whispered gossip, and battles between old and new money — you’re not alone. This glittering HBO drama, set in 1880s New York, has revived a hunger for period shows rich in costume, class conflict, and historical detail.
Whether you’re drawn to power struggles, slow-burn romances, or just want more lavish interiors and corseted drama, these 15 shows will transport you to a world as dazzling and dramatic as The Gilded Age.
1. Downton Abbey (2010–2015)
Setting: England, 1912–1926
The gold standard of upstairs-downstairs dramas, Downton Abbey follows the aristocratic Crawley family and their loyal servants through a changing world shaped by war, technology, and shifting social norms. With its exquisite costumes, sharp dialogue, and emotionally resonant storylines, it’s no surprise that this Julian Fellowes creation laid the groundwork for The Gilded Age.
Where to watch: Peacock, Amazon Prime
2. The Buccaneers (2023– )
Setting: 1870s–1880s, U.S. and England
A bold, feminist twist on the Gilded Age elite — this Apple TV+ series follows a group of wealthy American girls sent to marry into the British aristocracy. Full of ambition, rebellion, and emotional depth, it reimagines Edith Wharton’s unfinished novel with modern style, youthful energy, and LGBTQ+ representation.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
3. Belgravia (2020)
Setting: 1840s–1860s, London
Created by Julian Fellowes, Belgravia is all about secrets, scandals, and social climbing. When a hidden past threatens to unravel two wealthy families in London’s exclusive Belgravia district, reputations are on the line. It’s a quieter, more intimate story than The Gilded Age, but the themes of status and respectability will feel very familiar.
Where to watch: MGM+, Apple TV
4. Bridgerton (2020– )
Setting: 1813–1827, London
Opulent balls, elite matchmaking, and anonymous gossip — Bridgerton is Regency-era drama with a modern pulse. From its inclusive casting to its classical pop soundtrack, it’s romantic, sensual, and visually stunning. And much like The Gilded Age, it explores the tension between personal desire and social expectation.
Where to watch: Netflix
5. Victoria (2016–2019)
Setting: 1837–1860s, England
This gorgeous biopic chronicles Queen Victoria’s early reign, from her teenage ascension to her marriage with Prince Albert. Balancing royal protocol and political drama with tender moments of love and motherhood, Victoria paints an intimate portrait of a young woman shaping an empire.
Where to watch: PBS, Amazon Prime
6. Mr. Selfridge (2013–2016)
Setting: 1908–1920s, London
Based on the real-life American retail magnate Harry Selfridge, this drama charts the creation of one of London’s most iconic department stores. It’s about risk-taking, reinvention, and the glitz of consumerism — all set against the backdrop of societal transformation in Edwardian Britain.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
7. The Paradise (2012–2013)
Setting: 1870s–1880s, England
Inside Britain’s first department store, a young woman finds herself torn between love, ambition, and the expectations of Victorian society. A quieter, romantic drama with workplace intrigue and class commentary, perfect for fans of the van Rhijn household’s tensions.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, BritBox
8. Howards End (2017)
Setting: 1900s–1910s, England
This lush adaptation of E.M. Forster’s novel follows three families — one intellectual, one wealthy, and one working class — whose lives intertwine in a tale of inheritance, identity, and ideals. It’s cerebral, romantic, and quietly revolutionary.
Where to watch: Starz, Amazon Prime
9. The Forsyte Saga (2002)
Setting: 1870s–1920s, England
A sweeping generational saga of a wealthy British family whose rigid values clash with the modern world. Think betrayal, forbidden love, and the slow collapse of traditionalism — all against a backdrop of changing times.
Where to watch: BritBox, Amazon Prime
10. North & South (2004)
Setting: 1850s, Northern England
When a genteel southern woman moves to an industrial town, she clashes with a proud mill owner — and slowly falls for him. With themes of class tension, labor rights, and repressed desire, this adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel is a true gem.
Where to watch: BritBox, Amazon Prime
11. The Crimson Petal and the White (2011)
Setting: 1870s–1880s, London
This provocative, moody miniseries centers on Sugar, a prostitute who becomes the mistress of a wealthy man. Gritty and sensual, it digs into the darker underbelly of Victorian society with psychological depth and a gothic flair.
Where to watch: BritBox, Amazon Prime
12. Indian Summers (2015–2016)
Setting: 1930s, Colonial India
Set during the twilight of British rule in India, this ambitious drama explores racial tension, forbidden romance, and shifting power. Lavish, slow-burning, and politically rich, it mirrors the class divide and ambition of The Gilded Age, but in a very different context.
Where to watch: PBS, Amazon Prime
13. Anne with an E (2017–2019)
Setting: 1890s, Canada
A fresh, emotionally rich retelling of Anne of Green Gables that explores feminism, race, gender, and class through the eyes of an imaginative orphan girl. While its tone is more whimsical, the social themes are deep and relevant.
Where to watch: Netflix
14. Daniel Deronda (2002)
Setting: 1870s, England
This thoughtful adaptation of George Eliot’s novel examines class, identity, and anti-Semitism in Victorian Britain. Daniel, a privileged gentleman with mysterious roots, finds himself torn between two very different women — and two vastly different futures.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime, PBS Masterpiece
15. Penny Dreadful (2014–2016)
Setting: 1890s, London
A dark, twisted period drama that blends horror and high society, featuring characters like Frankenstein, Dracula, and Dorian Gray. It’s stylish, theatrical, and unexpectedly emotional — a shadowy cousin to the prim façades of The Gilded Age.
Where to watch: Paramount+, Amazon Prime
Ready to Time Travel?
Each of these shows offers a unique lens on history — whether you’re craving scandalous society secrets, class warfare, or forbidden love under chandeliers. Like The Gilded Age, they capture the drama of change, the weight of tradition, and the beauty (and brutality) of the past.
