Top 7 Films and Television Shows to Watch to Learn about British Culture

9th January 2023 Editor

Can you name any well-known British films or TV series? Some of you certainly can, but we’re sure there’s a large number of you that can’t. Before you visit the UK, check out these suggestions from us!

We thought we’d discuss some of our favorite shows and movies you should watch before visiting the UK! We ranked them not according to the quality (which is a subjective category) but according to the year of release. It will provide you with a glimpse into British society and the kinds of things you can do that are regarded as “British”.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a British author, created the fictitious investigator Sherlock Holmes. You can test yourself to see if you can find all of the renowned British landmarks out of this BBC series, becoming a true detective!

Places to pay attention to in the series:

Baker street
Red telephone box
Battersea Power station
Chinatown
23-24 Leinster Gardens
Old bailey
Carlton Terrace – Diogenes Club
South Bank Skate Park
St Bartholomew’s Hospital

Dr. No (1962)

James Bond is without a doubt well-known around the world. In these movies, the vehicles are frequently of renowned British manufacture or have gained popularity thanks to the British. You can see Mr. Bond in the movies driving an Aston Martin DBS, which is well-known to British viewers.

Visit the Imperial War Museum in London if you want a closer look at James Bond’s life. You may view the Secret War exhibition here, which highlights the covert operations of the British Special Forces. The museum also shows vintage classified technology, like encoding devices, and takes you back in time to investigate actual operatives and their job.

Wallace and Gromit (1995)

This is a series of British stop-motion comedies that Nick Park from Aardman Animations made. The primary characters of this franchise are among the most well-known and beloved characters in the UK and are frequently recognized as British cultural touchstones with global popularity.

There are certain franchise locations that are similar to UK places, such as Wigan in Northern England in the 1950s.

Many individuals who live outside the UK aren’t aware of how many diverse dialects and accents exist in the country. Wallace, in particular, has a West Yorkshire accent from the Holme Valley. Another common food in the UK that Wallace enjoys is Wensleydale cheese (from Wensleydale, North Yorkshire). You can also travel to other locations well-known for their cheeses, such as Cheddar Gorge.

Nothing Hill (1999)

One of the most recognized films with a London setting is this one. It’s a rom-com, and Notting Hill, one of London’s most well-known neighborhoods, is included!

If you ever travel to UK’s capital, you can see the locations featured in the film, such as the colorful homes along Portobello Road and the famed market where the Notting Hill Bookshop, which appears in one scene as a crowded room filled with books, is located.

Wondrous Oblivion (2003)

In the 2003 British film Wondrous Oblivion, a young Jewish immigrant child from Europe forms a bond with the West Indian family who lives next door to his family.

The movie, which is situated in South London in 1960, explores questions of race, friendship, and romance via the bond between the youngster (Sam Smith), who’s the neighbor Dennis (Delroy Lindo), and cricket, which they both share.

We’ve chosen this particular movie to be on the list because cricket’s inception took place in England. Cricket first gained popularity in the UK in the 17th century, when it was commonly played in rural areas. Then the passion for the sport was transferred to nations under the British Empire, such as India. Now cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world, arousing a lot of interest in wagering at the cricket list of betting sites.

Paul Morrison wrote the screenplay and directed Wondrous Oblivion, which took home prizes at the Giffoni Film Festival in 2003 and the Boston Jewish Film Festival in 2004.

Nanny McPhee (2005)

One of those films for kids, Nanny McPhee shouldn’t be missed. It focuses on misbehaving kids and a babysitter (nanny) with magical abilities to discipline them.

In one scene, Mrs. Selma Quickly is seen enjoying afternoon tea, despite the fact that worms are not a typical component of true afternoon tea. The seventh Duchess of Bedford, Anna, brought afternoon tea to England in 1840, making it a particularly typical British activity.

Because the Duchess’ dinner wasn’t served until eight o’clock, she became extremely hungry before it. In order to satisfy her appetite, the Duchess asked for a platter of tea, bread, butter, and cake in the late afternoon. She started to invite friends to come with her after this become a habit for her.

Because of this custom, afternoon tea became a fashionable event in the 1880s, when upper-class women would spruce up in chic hats, gloves, and gowns.

Nowadays, afternoon tea typically consists of sweet pastries and cakes, tiny amounts of scones with jam and clotted cream, sandwiches, macarons, and of course, tea! When you visit the UK, try this out; it’s a great soothing hobby to engage in with some pals.

This is England (2007)

This film tells the narrative of the so-called ‘skinheads’, a British working-class adolescent subculture that flourished in the 1960s.

The 10-week Falklands War, the well-known Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are all mentioned in the text.

Start watching these suggestions and take pleasure in the tiny British surprises we’ve included in them.