What to read and watch next if you love Downton Abbey

With the recent release of the Downton Abbey movie, I am rewatching the television series and I am reminded of how much I love it.  It truly is great story-telling, and for those of us who love historical fiction, it is one of the best!

So, if you count yourself among those who love Downton Abbey, here are some books you can read and some shows you can watch that will help you continue your love of all things British and Edwardian!  

Books to read

Margaret Powell has two memoirs that tell of a life "below stairs" in an English home.  One of them Below Stairs, is actually the book that inspired Downton Abbey!  In this book, Margaret Powell tells of her own time as a kitchen maid in the 1920s.  In her second memoir, Servant's Hall, she tells of a romance between a house maid and the family's son.  Both books are great peeks into the true life of the homes of the upper class which were divided by stairs.  

Shows to watch

While rewatching Downton Abbey is always a great idea, there are other shows that Downton Abbey fans would love as well!  

Upstairs, Downstairs

This show, also inspired by Margaret Powell's memoir, came out in the early 1970s in Britain in ITV.  It ran for 68 episodes, divided into 5 series or seasons, covering the time period from 1903-1930.  This series is phenomenal!  I might actually like it better than Downton Abbey!  There are only 2 ways for you to see these episodes - one is through BritBox, the streaming service run by BBC and ITV that is the largest streaming service of British television (including classic Doctor Who!)  The other way you can see all of Upstairs, Downstairs is quite a bit more expensive - the box set of DVDs - which is just under $100.  

Upstairs, Downstairs was continued in 2010 and released 2 seasons on BBC One.  These two seasons cover the years from 1936-1939, the outbreak of World War II.  They include one of the actresses from the original series in the story.  You can watch this show on BritBox or purchase the seasons on Amazon Prime Video.  

The Crown

This show, created for Netflix, follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. For any anglophile, it is a must watch!  It shows the behind-the-scenes life of the royals, and gives an inside look at the fascinating royal family.  

Elizabeth at 90:  A Family Portrait

Another show available to view on Netflix is the BBC documentary of Queen Elizabeth II done for her 90th birthday.  It is narrated by Prince Charles and includes stories and pictures of her life as the reigning monarch of England.  They show and talk about family pictures and vacations, and it is a sweet look into the royal family.  

So there you have it, my top picks for the fan of Downton Abbey!! 

Which ones have you read or seen?