With extreme violence, criminal intrigue, and a unique look at the world of gangsters, there are a lot of fans looking for other show like Gangs of London. Premiering in 2020 and created by Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery, Gangs of London has grown in popularity, with the series showing the present-day struggles between rival gangs in London. In addition to receiving high viewing figures, the show has also received much critical acclaim. While it set itself apart in the genre, Gangs of London delivers the thrills and storylines that fans of British crime dramas will enjoy.

Following an explosive season 2, fans are left waiting a long while for Gangs of London season 3 to take shape. However, in the meantime, there are some great options to check out that capture a similar vibe. These shows contain the gritty violence and the brutal struggle for power all told through the complex characters whom the audience is invested in even as they watch them do horrible things. These are the same kind of thrills that have made Gangs of London so popular.

20 Time (2021-Present)

Available On Brit Box

The first season is the best for Gangs of London fans to check out

One of Gangs of London's biggest themes is how certain people survive in a violent crime world such as this one. Some of the characters are shown to not be cut out for such an existence, while others make compromises to survive. These themes are also explored in the series Time, which takes a look at the lives of various characters within the prison system. There have been two seasons to date with each focusing on different characters, but the first season is the best for Gangs of London fans to check out.

Sean Bean stars as a family man and teacher whose alcoholism leads him to accidentally kill a man and be sentenced to prison where his meek and reserved personality is challenged. Meanwhile, Stephen Graham plays an honest and hardworking guard who is put in a difficult position when an incarcerated gangster threatens his family. It is an intense and riveting look at the inhumane world within a prison and the unlikely people who have the strength to show their humanity.

19 Strike Back (2010-2020)

Available On Brit Box

A big reason why Gangs of London is such a popular series is its intense action. For a show on the small screen, the fight scenes and shootouts rival the kind of pulse-pounding and visceral sequences seen in the likes of the John Wick movies. While Strike Back’s action sequences are not quite on that level, it is a must-watch for fans of the genre as it is one of the most action-packed British shows on television.

The series follows a special branch of MI6 as they carry out high-risk missions around the world. While many British crime series dig deeper into the psychology of their characters and embrace the brooding tone, Strike Back seems to understand the role it plays as pure entertainment, following a formula of exciting and intense spy missions.

18 Slow Horses (2022-Present)

Available On Apple TV+

There is a down-and-dirty quality to Gangs of London, which is refreshingly gritty compared to some of the more polished British crime series. It doesn’t shy away from the ugliness and griminess of its characters, which makes them all the more entertaining to spend time with. This is one of the qualities that has gradually made Slow Horses regarded as one of the best shows on television.

The spy series separates itself as far from James Bond as it can by focusing on a group of MI6 agents whose incompetence and colossal mistakes in their jobs have led to them being demoted to a disregarded and ridiculed Slough House, led by the crass Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). The show has a great sense of humor, something Gangs of London largely lacks, but it never loses the stakes of the spy story as these underdogs find themselves getting caught up in real missions.

17 The Night Manager (2016-Present)

Available On Prime Video

The undercover aspects of Elliot (Sope Dirisu) infiltrating the gang world offer some of the tensest scenes in Gangs of London. There is a constant threat of the truth of his identity being revealed and putting his life in danger. That is part of the thrill in the crime series, The Night Manager. Based on the story by master of the spy genre John le Carre, it is another look at undercover spy work with danger around every corner.

The Night Manager stars Tom Hiddleston as a former British soldier managing a hotel in Cairo when he is approached with a mission to infiltrate the inner circle of an arms dealer (Hugh Laurie). Hiddleston makes for a suave and grounded hero while Laurie is excellent in the villainous role. The series also stars the likes of Elizabeth Debicki, Tom Hollander, and Olivia Colman. Much to the delight of fans, The Night Manager season 2 will continue the story after a long wait.

16 Bodyguard (2018)

Available On Netflix

While the storylines of rival gangs going to war are exciting, some of the best aspects of Gangs of London deal with the journey of Elliot. He is a dedicated soldier who seems to jump from one deadly confrontation to another without losing his determination. Fans can find a similar hero with the character of David Budd in the equally intense British series Bodyguard.

Budd is a former soldier recovering from his traumatic experiences when his efforts to prevent a terrorist attack put him in the media spotlight. This leads to him being selected as a personal bodyguard for a controversial politician. However, he soon finds himself in the midst of a dangerous conspiracy. The series is a pulse-pounding ride from the first unforgettable sequences. Both Sope Dirisu and Richard Madden have garnered interest in potentially being the next James Bond thanks to their roles in their respective shows.

15 A Town Called Malice (2023)

Available On Apple TV+

The family aspect of Gangs of London is another part of the story that is explored in some thrilling ways. There are some of the family trying to distance themselves from their criminal life, others who pretend as though they are not a part of it, and others who want to prove themselves worthy of the legacy. There are some similar family elements in the crime comedy series A Town Called Malice.

The show focuses on the Lord family, a former criminal empire that has moved on from their illegal activities but has also grown to miss their days of power. When one of the sons flees to Spain to avoid being arrested, the rest of the family him and begin to build their criminal empire once again. This is another series that takes a more comedic approach, but there is still the violence and mayhem that fans of the crime genre will enjoy.

14 McMafia (2018)

Stream On AMC+

Going back to Michael Corleone in The Godfather, there has been a theme in gangster stories about the hope for someone in the family to escape this way of life. Gangs of London season 1 focuses on Sean Wallace attempting to take over his father's business but gradually realizing he isn't cut out for it, which is the opposite idea explored in McMafia.

The series centers on Alex Godman, the son of a famous Russian crime family, who was sent to grow up in England and tries to avoid his family's history. Although Alex tries to stay away from the corruption and build a life with his partner, of course, he's pulled into the chaos. Though only one season, the show delivered an intense and thrilling crime story with a sympathetic character at the center with James Norton turning in a spectacular performance.

A planned second season was reportedly canceled before it started production in 2022, but author and executive producer Misha Glenny has debunked that rumor, sparking hope of more to come.

13 Top Boy (2011-2023)

Stream On Netflix

Top Boy delves into the lives of people living in the housing estates in east London in a gritty tense crime thriller. The series focuses on two characters, one a drug dealer who is trying to make it to the top and another struggling to survive and be independent after his mother's breakdown. The series balances dramatic gang violence with social commentary and moments of humor that make for an underrated series that more people should seek out.

While Gangs of London largely focuses on those at the top of the criminal empire, it also explores the street-level aspects that are seen in Top Boy. It's exciting to get a more in-depth look at this world and the characters that make it up, and shows, that despite a smaller operation, the stakes are still high and the world is an even more dangerous one.

12 Taboo (2017)

Stream On Peacock

Tom Hardy is a riveting presence on screen and he's the best reason to check out the period crime drama Taboo. Taboo follows adventurer James Delaney (Hardy) as he returns home to England in the 1800s to claim his family inheritance in their shipping business, but he finds that nothing is what it seems and his enemies are ready to try to steal Delaney's power in the industry.

Although the series isn't about gangs in particular, Taboo is still similar to Gangs of London. It is another series that explores the dangerous struggle for power between two sides with the sense of family legacy at stake. Hardy makes for a great unpredictable force, taking the fight to extreme measures in order to gain the upper hand. He is an eccentric protagonist, and the show is elevated by his committed performance.

11 Des (2020)

Available On AMC+

Gangs of London shocked a lot of viewers with its extreme levels of violence. It is a reminder of the kind of dark stories that can be told in this age of television where crime dramas are so popular. Such is the case with Des which although the violence is not necessarily on screen, remains dark and haunting. Des focuses on Dennis Nilsen (David Tennant) who its to killing several people in Scotland in the 1980s.

The show follows his arrest and trial and Nilsen's terrifying demeanor. Although Des is about a singular serial killer and based on real-life events, it's still similar to Gangs of London for its intricate and engaging storytelling and power moves between the police, lawyers, and a biographer who attempt to prove Nilsen's guilt. Tennant proved he could play a capable villain in Jessica Jones, and he doubles down on that in Des.