50 Romantic Period Dramas to Watch on Hulu (TV and Miniseries Edition)

When it comes to binge-watching my latest period drama, I confess that I tend to turn to Netflix and Amazon Prime (Hulu does have that pesky commercial problem after all). However, with a recent upgrade I can now watch period dramas on Hulu without all the advertising interruptions. And with this new upgrade, I decided to do some serious browsing (like a network to network browsing).

I wanted to discover the best of what Hulu had to offer and find I did. It was startling to discover that Hulu has such a rich variety of period dramas from all over the world. By the time I finished scrolling, I had a couple hundred titles on my list, several I knew and several I had never even heard of.

That list was slightly overwhelming so I decided that for the purposes of this article I would focus on the TV movies, the mini-series, and TV shows with at least a touch of romance, and titles that had full seasons (you can catch all of Grand Hotel on Netflix for instance). I also aimed for programs with less explicit content (think TV 14 and below – although the content of some of the titles I kept remain unknown to me). Hopefully, you will find just the perfect program on this list, and perhaps do some scrolling on your own (as this list only scratches the surface). There really are numerous hidden gems just waiting to be found!

EDIT: As this is a streaming site with constant new deals and content changes, the period dramas available are subject to change. This is what was available in October 2015.

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50 Romantic Period Dramas to Watch on Hulu

(In Alphabetical Order)

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#1: The 39 Steps (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: Richard Hannay is caught up in a deadly conspiracy which threatens his life and the safety of Great Britain. As he attempts to unravel the mystery, he forges an alliance with a feisty suffragette and is thrust into a series of thrilling adventures.

Why You Should Check it Out: Well, besides the fact that it is expiring from Hulu soon, “The 39 Steps” stars Persuasion’s Rupert Penry-Jones.

#2: Agatha Christie’s Marple (2004)

Hulu Synopsis: Agatha Christie’s crime thrillers featuring the author’s much-loved spinster sleuth Miss Jane Marple.

Why You Should Check it Out: Each episode is like a standalone mystery movie that is just thrilling entertainment. There are a lot of familiar guest stars too…

#3: Bleak House (2005)

Hulu Synopsis: At the heart of this star-studded adaptation of the literary classic by Charles Dickens is the story of the icily beautiful Lady Dedlock, who nurses a dark secret, and the merciless lawyer Tulkinghorn, who seeks to uncover it.

Why You Should Check it Out: This adaptation of Bleak House has to be one of the best Charles Dickens adaptations available. Great cast (including Gillian Anderson), exquisite costumes, and a script make this one a must see!

#4: Buffalo Girls (1995)

Hulu Synopsis: Discover the bold escapades of Calamity Jane and her illustrious cohorts, as they travel the Wild West in search of her long-lost daughter and the West they once knew. From the novel by Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove).

Why You Should Check it Out: For the life of me, I could not figure out if there was romance in this particular period drama (I haven’t seen it yet). But with Angelica Huston at the helm, I figured this mini-series is at least a whole lot of Wild West fun!

#5: Cranford (2007)

Hulu Synopsis: This witty and poignant story, starring the Oscar-winning Judi Dench, follows the small absurdities and major tragedies in the lives of the people in the small northern English town of Cranford in the 1840s.

Why You Should Check it Out: Watch this amazing, emotional, and funny period drama for the goosebumps! The love stories are fabulous, the acting phenomenal, and the story is to die for (the series IS based on an Elizabeth Gaskell novel). If you love shows like Road to Avonlea, The Paradise, or Lark Rise to Candleford, you will no doubt fall in love with Cranford. Tom Hiddleston even shows up for season 2!

#6: Daniel Deronda (2002)

Hulu Synopsis: Andrew Davies’ adaptation of George Eliot’s last, most ambitious novel, charts a love story set in Victorian high society. Torn between two women, Daniel embarks on a quest to discover his true identity. Fate, however, leads to a surprising twist.

Why You Should Check it Out: Starring Hugh Dancy, Romola Garai, and Hugh Bonneville, Daniel Deronda not only has amazing star power, it is absolutely one of the best period dramas of all time. I can’t gush about this one enough. It’s romantic, the story is captivating, and the characters all have extreme depth. My only quibble is Mirah, but that’s for another discussion…

#7: David Copperfield (1999)

Hulu Synopsis: Follow David Copperfield from birth to manhood as he meets an extraordinary range of sinister and benevolent characters. From Pegotty, the devoted servant, to the sadistic Mr. Murdstone, unctuous Uriah Heap and eternal optimist Mr. Micawber.

Why You Should Check it Out: Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) plays the young David Copperfield in this adaptation! Maggie Smith also plays an important role. Overall, this version of the Charles Dickens classic is another example of why BBC stands out when it comes to superb and satisfying productions of the classics.

#8: Elizabeth R (1971)

Hulu Synopsis: Glenda Jackson gives a regal performance as Queen Elizabeth I, from a terrified princess surrounded by treachery, to assured monarch and liverish old…more lady.

Why You Should Check it Out: Known for its historical accuracy, there’s a reason why this older period drama is still remembered to this day. Sure, the sets aren’t what they are now, but the performances and script make this one to definitely watch if you love historical dramas.

#9: Emma (2009)

Hulu Synopsis: Certain of her skill as a matchmaker, Emma Woodhouse persuades her friend Harriet to reject an advantageous marriage proposal to a local farmer in favor of dashing Mr. Elton. So begins a story which challenges Emma’s naivety and her social preconceptions.

Why You Should Check it Out: While there have been several awesome Emma adaptations of Jane Austen’s romantic classic, I confess that this version is my favorite. Jonny Lee Miller and Romola Garai are adorable together as Emma and Mr. Knightly. Plus, Michael Gambon as Emma’s father is simply wonderful!

Emma (2009) Review

#10: Empress Ki (2013)

Hulu Synopsis: This is the epic tale of Empress Ki, the Goryeo woman who was sent to the Yuan Empire as a tribute, as so many women were back in the days. She caught the eye of the Yuan emperor, first becoming his concubine and eventually ascending to the position of primary empress. As a reinterpretation of her life and loves, this drama weaves together history and fiction to create a fantastical narrative of a fascinating woman who defied all odds to rise above her social status and become a pivotal part of one of the greatest empires in history.

Why You Should Check it Out: With seemingly countless Asian Historical Romances to choose from, I decided to select a few that sounded the most compelling and most romantic. This is one of those titles. Anyone who has seen this one, be sure to chime in below!

#11: Faerie Tale Theatre (1982-1987)

Hulu Synopsis: Faerie Tale Theatre brings to life twenty-six of the most magical fairy tales of all time. Directed by such masters of cinema as Tim Burton, Francis Ford Coppola and more, and star-powered by Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Mick Jagger, James Earl Jones, Howie Mandel, Christopher Reeve, Susan Sarandon and more, this collection is an unparalleled treasury of the best-loved tales of enchantment, adventure, and wonder.

Why You Should Check it Out: While technically more fantasy than a period drama, I couldn’t help but include these classic and enchanting interpretations of fairy tales. If you haven’t seen these yet, make sure to make it a priority! Just don’t expect the quality and special effects of a modern day production.

#12: Great Expectations (1999)

Hulu Synopsis: Violence and Victorian gentility meet in one of Dickens’ greatest creations. Pip’s epic journey from boy to man has at its center his relationships with the terrifying convict Magwitch, manipulative Miss Havisham, and the beautiful but heartless Estella.

Why You Should Check it Out: This is by far my personal favorite version of Great Expectations because it feels the truest to the novel. The almost always forgotten Biddy even has a huge role! Also, Ioan Gruffudd is amazing as usual in the leading role.

#13: He Knew He Was Right (2004)

Hulu Synopsis: Louis Trevelyan’s refusal to trust his wife Emily destroys their marriage and both of their lives. Emily’s sister Nora causes uproar when she decides to marry for love rather than wealth – and the local clergyman proposes to not one woman, but three.

Why You Should Check it Out: All three love stories will suck you into this lush, gorgeously crafted, and wonderful mini-series. It’s tragic, romantic, and even funny. David Tennant plays one of his funniest roles ever in this one!

#14: The Indian Doctor (2010)

Hulu Synopsis: This award-winning, light-hearted BBC One period drama is the “fish out of water” story of Prem Sharma, a highly educated Indian doctor, and Kamini, his beautiful upper class wife, who, attracted by the promise of opportunities in the new National Health Service and a glamorous lifestyle in London, leave India in 1963 only to find themselves sent to a small practice in a Welsh coal mining village.

Why You Should Check it Out: While I haven’t seen The Indian Doctor, it sounds like good, clean fun! I love period dramas that focus on small towns or villages. Let me know what you think about this one!

#15: The Infinite World of H.G. Wells (2001)

Hulu Synopsis: It begins a half-century earlier at London’s Imperial College of Science where Wells meets Jane Robbins, a scientist equally fascinated by unnatural phenomenon, and a woman who immediately captures Wells’ heart. Through midnight experiments and secret investigations into the paranormal, through the follies of chance and the miracles of fate, Wells and Robbins find themselves slipping into whirlpools of time, both past and present, they never thought possible. Since this mysterious universe can not be shared with the world, this becomes a wondrous secret that binds them forever.

Why You Should Check it Out: It’s science fiction, romance, and a period drama all rolled into one. What’s not to love?

#16: Jane Eyre (1983) – Spoilers

Hulu Synopsis: Charlotte Bronte’s enduring romance about a governess who falls for her enigmatic master, and discovers on her wedding day that he already has a wife. (Time for Hulu to change their spoilery description…)

Why You Should Check it Out: Instead of trying to convince you to watch this AMAZING adaptation of Jane Eyre, I’ll leave that to Amber who gave ten reasons why this is one period drama you don’t want to miss.

Ten Reasons to Watch the 1983 Jane Eyre Adaptation

#17: The King’s Daughter (2013)

Hulu Synopsis: This is the story of Su Baek-hyang, born as the elder daughter of King Mu-ryeong but unable to retain her title of princess due to her ambitious younger sister, Sol-hui. Humble and hard-working, she was taught never to want or to desire beyond what she has, but the fate given to her is one that will affect not only her life and her family’s lives, but the entire nation as she struggles to find her place in life and fight for love.

Why You Should Check it Out: This has the potential to be a great choice for those of us who love a good old-fashioned princess tale.

#18: Lark Rise to Candleford (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: Lark Rise, a small hamlet holding on to the past, and Candleford, a small market town bustling into the future, have a complicated relationship which is seen through the eyes of Laura, a young girl who visits both communities.

Why You Should Check it Out: I often get asked by friends and family members about what period drama TV series they should check out next. Lark Rise to Candleford is always at the top of my list! With a wonderful cast, excellent scripts (from the same writer as The Paradise), and characterization about as real as you can get, this is one uplifting romantic period drama that the whole family can enjoy.

#19: Little Dorrit (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: When Arthur Clennam returns to England, his curiosity is piqued by the presence of a young seamstress, Amy Dorrit, in his mother’s house. Arthur then…more must untangle the mystery of Amy, her father, and Arthur’s mother in this classic Dickens story.

Why You Should Check it Out: With Matthew MacFadyen as the leading man (Mr. Darcy), what could go wrong? Seriously, though, I just adore this Charles Dickens adaptation. Little Dorrit is definitely one of the best period dramas out there.

RELATED | Little Dorrit Review (2008)

#20: Little Women (1978)

Hulu Synopsis: Based on the classic 1868 novel about love, family and the female spirit, Louisa May Alcott tells the domestic saga of the March family.

Why You Should Check it Out: I don’t know about everyone else, but as someone who has never seen this version of the beloved classic novel, I’m curious to see how this mini-series interprets Alcott’s work.

#21: London Hospital (2010)

Hulu Synopsis: Romance, surgery, and history combine in this vivid, atmospheric drama based on the lives and case notes of doctors, nurses and patients at the Royal London Hospital a century ago.

Why You Should Check it Out: Another one on my own list to watch, it sounds like a great pick for Call the Midwife fans!

#22: Lost in Austen (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: A thoroughly modern heroine threatens to ruin one of the world’s greatest literary love stories in this ingenious reinvention of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. Hollywood actress Alex Kingston stars alongside an acclaimed cast, including Hugh Bonneville, Lindsay Duncan and new Bond girl Gemma Arterton. Bored bank worker Amanda Price literally becomes lost in her favourite Austen book, after she finds a strange portal in her bathroom and swaps places with its heroine Elizabeth Bennet. As she gets to know the Bennet family and encounters the famous Mr. Darcy, how can she keep this celebrated romance on track?

Why You Should Check it Out: A swoon-worthy take on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It is ‘thoroughly’ entertaining, even if the series makes Amanda a little TOO modern to make sense.

#23: Maids (2014)

Hulu Synopsis: Set in the Joseon Dynasty, three women learn what love means as they try to navigate through the class system and survive. In Yup (Jung Yoo Mi) is a beautiful noblewoman who becomes a servant overnight when her father is framed and labeled a traitor. She ends up falling in love with a fellow servant, Moo Myung (Oh Ji Ho), while working for the royal family and becomes friends with her own handmaiden Sa Wol thanks to their shared experiences. Meanwhile, Ga Hee is the most famous gisaeng of the city but with her own aspirations for romance. She falls in love with Moo Myung, but what can she do when his heart lies elsewhere?

Why You Should Check it Out: For fans of Downton Abbey and Grand Hotel, Maids promises a class system romance that will be sure to capture the hearts of all the romantics out there.

#24: Merlin (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: The adventures of the legendary sorcerer as a young man.

Why You Should Check it Out: While an imperfect series (particularly in later seasons), this fantasy period piece is all sorts of fun! Plus, there are a lot of really good looking knights running around. My love for Ioan Gruffudd aside, Merlin also gives us the best and most notable Lancelot to ever grace the screen (I’ll include an extra picture just to be more convincing…)

#25: Middlemarch (1994)

Hulu Synopsis: A masterpiece of 19th Century literature is transformed into a triumph of 20th Century television in this turbulent classic drama. A multi-layered…more story of provincial life on the brink of momentous change.

Why You Should Check it Out: Definitely worth watching for the love story between the characters played by Juliet Aubrey and Rufus Sewell.

#26: Miss Austen Regrets (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: Based on Jane Austen’s own letters and diaries this drama unravels the secrets of the elusive novelist.

Why You Should Check it Out: While not equal to Becoming Jane (how I see it anyway), Olivia Williams shines as one of the best writers of all time! Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Bonneville also star in this TV movie.

#27: The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)

Hulu Synopsis: Set in a fictional time of the Joseon era, a chance meeting between the crown prince and a nobleman’s daughter gives rise to political strife, conspiracies and a fateful love that surpasses even death. Though chosen as Crown Princess, Heo Yeonwoo is torn from her rightful place and is forced to undertake a new life. Years later, the star-crossed lovers reunite as Wol, the secretive shaman, and King Yi Hwon, the man who lost his innocence with the death of his beloved. Based on the novel written by popular author Jeong Eungwol (“The Lives of Sungkyunkwan Scholars”) and directed by Kim Dohun (“Royal Family”), “The Moon Embracing the Sun” is a fantasy series that fuses together romance and history.

Why You Should Check it Out: This is the number one highest rated historical drama over on Drama Fever, so I think that says a lot about the addictive potential. Not to mention, the premise sounds awesome! I will be watching this one as soon as I find the time. There is also a Spanish version available!

#28: Murdoch Mysteries (2008)

Hulu Synopsis: Set in early 20th century Toronto, Murdoch Mysteries explores the intriguing world of William Murdoch, a detective who pioneers innovative forensic…more techniques to solve some of the city’s most gruesome crimes.

Why You Should Check it Out: While certainly the period dialogue can be slightly contrived at times, Murdoch Mysteries is a delightful show to watch for those who like romance and mystery combined. Only the first six seasons are available, but that is still a good jumping off point. Foyle’s War is an even better period drama mystery show, but only 2 of the many seasons are available on Hulu…

RELATED | Murdoch Mysteries Review

#29: Northanger Abbey (2007)

Hulu Synopsis: Catherine Morland, a clergyman’s daughter, is taken to Bath for the season by family friends. There she meets Henry Tilney and is invited to Northanger Abbey, his family seat.

Why You Should Check it Out: This Gothic satire based on a Jane Austen classic is one of the most adorable and romantic period dramas on this list! Felicity Jones and J.J. Feild are both perfect in this made for TV film. If that’s not enough to convince you, just check out Amirah’s Romantic Moment…

Classic Romantic Moment: Northanger Abbey’s Catherine and Mr. Tilney

#30: Oliver Twist (2007)

Hulu Synopsis: This gripping and emotionally powerful adaptation from one of British television’s most exciting new writers breathes new life into the popular…more Dickens story.

Why You Should Check it Out: Even though it seems there are countless interpretations of Oliver Twist, this particular version is worth catching for Tom Hardy as Sikes and Sophie Okonedo as Nancy.