Since the conclusion of the Downton Abbey saga with The Grand Finale in September 2025, period drama enthusiasts have been searching for a new obsession. Many have found it in Belgravia, a 2020 ITV series also created by Julian Fellowes. Set in 19th-century London, the show shares the lavish period detail and social commentary that made its predecessor a hit.
Based on Fellowes' 2016 novel, Belgravia opens at the real-life Duchess of Richmond's ball in Brussels in 1815. The story follows James and Anne Trenchard, a wealthy couple whose fortune comes from trade rather than lineage, and their daughter Sophia, who catches the eye of Edmund Bellasis, heir to a powerful aristocratic family. The consequences ripple forward two decades as both families settle in the newly fashionable Belgravia district.
The series explores tensions between old money and new, with one IMDb reviewer describing it as 'the war of the classes, here the families of historical grandeur are joined by the nouveau riche.' The cast includes Philip Glenister and Tamsin Greig as the Trenchards, Harriet Walter as the Countess of Brockenhurst, and the late Tom Wilkinson as her husband. Visually, the show delights with opulent sets and costumes, earning a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and praise for being 'delightfully soapy.'
Executive producer Gareth Neame emphasises that Belgravia is 'very, very different' from Downton Abbey, describing it as a self-contained story with a clear beginning, middle, and end, rather than an ongoing saga. Its focused, mystery-driven plot compensates for a shorter run. One reviewer summed it up: 'Tea and scandal, great for Sunday nights.' For those mourning the end of Downton, Belgravia offers a satisfying new fixation.
