The Young Victoria offers a glimpse into the life of Queen Victoria during her early years on the throne and her courtship with Prince Albert. While Downton Abbey focuses on the aristocracy and their staff, this film centers on the ultimate 'upstairs' – the royal family itself. It portrays the political maneuvering, personal challenges, and romantic development of the young monarch. Starring Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend, the film is sumptuously designed, capturing the look and feel of the early Victorian era. It's a fascinating historical portrait that provides context for the later periods depicted in other British dramas, showing the source of the era's strict social codes and grandeur.

The Duchess takes us back further in time than Downton Abbey, to the late 18th century, but offers a compelling look at the gilded cage of aristocratic life. Keira Knightley stars as Georgiana Cavendish, the Duchess of Devonshire, a celebrated beauty and fashion icon whose public popularity masked a tumultuous private life and a difficult marriage. The film explores themes of societal pressure, gender roles, and the pursuit of happiness within the confines of duty and expectation among the British elite. It's a visually opulent film with stunning costumes and sets, providing a fascinating, albeit earlier, historical context for the world of grand estates and noble titles.

Jane Austen's comedy of manners, Emma, has been adapted many times, with the 1996 film starring Gwyneth Paltrow being a popular version. Set in the fictional village of Highbury during the Regency period, it follows the well-meaning but often misguided Emma Woodhouse as she attempts to play matchmaker for her friends. The film is a charming portrayal of provincial gentry life, focusing on social circles, gossip, and romantic entanglements. While lacking the 'downstairs' perspective of Downton Abbey, it provides a delightful glimpse into the customs, fashion, and social dynamics of the English upper classes just before the Victorian era.

Perhaps the most beloved Jane Austen story, Pride & Prejudice, in its stunning 2005 film adaptation, offers a captivating look at the gentry class in Regency England. The fiery dynamic between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy is at the heart of this tale of social standing, reputation, and finding love despite initial prejudices. Directed by Joe Wright, this version is praised for its naturalistic feel, gorgeous visuals, and the chemistry between Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen. Like Downton, it explores the importance of wealth, status, and marriage within a specific social hierarchy, albeit in a slightly earlier, less industrialized time.

While set earlier than Downton Abbey in the Regency era, Jane Austen adaptations are essential viewing for fans of historical British dramas focusing on class, romance, and societal expectations. Sense and Sensibility, adapted here by Emma Thompson (who also stars and won an Oscar for her screenplay), tells the story of the Dashwood sisters as they navigate love and marriage after losing their family fortune. Directed by Ang Lee, this film is celebrated for its emotional depth, beautiful cinematography, and pitch-perfect performances from a cast including Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, and Alan Rickman. It beautifully captures the delicate dance of courtship and the harsh realities faced by women in that period.

Another sharp social comedy from Oscar Wilde, An Ideal Husband is set slightly earlier than Downton Abbey, in the late Victorian period, but shares a focus on the secrets and scandals within high society. The story revolves around a seemingly perfect politician whose past comes back to haunt him, threatening his career and marriage. The film is full of Wilde's signature wit, cynicism, and observations on morality and reputation. The 1999 adaptation features a superb ensemble cast, including Cate Blanchett, Minnie Driver, Rupert Everett, and Julianne Moore, who wonderfully bring the characters and their drawing-room dramas to life. It's a frothy, intelligent look at the hypocrisies of the upper crust.

For a lighter, witty take on the upper classes of the late Victorian/Edwardian era, look no further than The Importance of Being Earnest. This adaptation of Oscar Wilde's brilliant play is a comedic masterpiece of mistaken identity, social satire, and epigrammatic dialogue. While less focused on the 'downstairs' element of Downton Abbey, it perfectly captures the absurdity and strictures of aristocratic life and courtship rituals of the time. The 2002 film boasts a fantastic cast, including Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, Frances O'Connor, and Judi Dench, who deliver Wilde's lines with relish. It's a hilarious and stylish glimpse into the world of cucumber sandwiches, country estates, and social facades.

Maurice, another exquisite adaptation from Merchant Ivory based on an E.M. Forster novel, is set in the early 20th century, around the same time Downton Abbey begins. It tells the story of Maurice Hall, a young man coming to terms with his homosexuality in a time when it was illegal and deeply taboo in England. The film offers a compelling look at the social constraints and prejudices of the era, particularly within the upper classes and university settings. While its central theme is different from Downton, it shares the meticulous attention to period detail, the exploration of societal norms, and features stunning locations that evoke the feeling of the time.

Step into the sun-drenched beauty of turn-of-the-century Italy and the drawing rooms of Edwardian England with A Room with a View. This charming Merchant Ivory film, based on E.M. Forster's novel, follows young Lucy Honeychurch as she navigates societal expectations and burgeoning desires. It's a delightful blend of romance, comedy, and social observation, contrasting the rigid conventions of English society with the liberating freedom found abroad. The film captures the feel of the era just before the Downton Abbey timeline begins, showcasing the manners, customs, and beautiful costumes of the period. It launched the careers of Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands and remains a beloved classic for its wit and beauty.

Brideshead Revisited is a lush adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's acclaimed novel, following the life of Charles Ryder as he becomes entangled with the aristocratic Flyte family and their grand estate, Brideshead. Spanning several decades from the 1920s to the 1940s, the film explores themes of class, religion, desire, and the decline of the English aristocracy. While perhaps darker and more complex than Downton Abbey, it shares a fascination with stately homes and the lives lived within their walls, both upstairs and down (though the focus is primarily on the family). The visual splendor and period detail are captivating, and the performances, particularly by Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews in the earlier television adaptation, are iconic. The 2008 film version offers a condensed but still compelling take on this epic story.

Another gem from Merchant Ivory, Howards End transports you to Edwardian England, exploring the intersecting lives of three families from different social strata: the wealthy, imperial Schlegels; the pragmatic, capitalist Wilcoxes; and the struggling, working-class Basts. Based on E.M. Forster's classic novel, this film is a brilliant examination of class, culture, and connection, and the beautiful English countryside plays a character all its own. With stellar performances from Emma Thompson (who won an Oscar), Anthony Hopkins, and Helena Bonham Carter, it's a rich, intelligent, and visually stunning portrayal of a society on the cusp of change, much like the world depicted in Downton Abbey.

The Remains of the Day is a poignant and powerful drama that delves deep into the life of a dedicated English butler, Stevens, serving in a grand house in the years leading up to World War II. Starring the incomparable Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson, the film explores themes of duty, repression, and unspoken love within the rigid confines of class and service. Directed by James Ivory, this Merchant Ivory production is renowned for its exquisite period detail and nuanced performances. It's a subtle yet profound look at a disappearing way of life and the personal sacrifices made in the name of service, offering a different, more intimate perspective on the 'downstairs' world that fans of Downton Abbey will find fascinating.

If you adore the world of Downton Abbey, you absolutely must watch Gosford Park. It's no coincidence it feels familiar – the screenplay was written by Julian Fellowes himself, years before he created the Crawley family! Directed by the legendary Robert Altman, this film is a masterclass in ensemble storytelling, set during a shooting party in 1932. It perfectly captures the intricate dance between the aristocratic 'upstairs' guests and the bustling 'downstairs' staff, revealing secrets, tensions, and desires lurking beneath the surface. The cast is phenomenal, a true who's who of British acting talent, and the film's subtle wit and sharp social commentary make it a truly engrossing experience. It even won Fellowes an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay!