Where to Travel if You Love Masterpiece Mysteries TV Shows

Whenever real life begins to feel too heavy, comfort arrives in the form of an erudite and charismatic detective solving a murder in a quaint English village. And while streaming services offer up many options in this cozy genre, they still pale in comparison to original, the gold standard, the cream of the crop: PBS Masterpiece.

For those who still need to be put on, Masterpiece is a collection of excellently scripted, TV shows from PBS (many of which are produced by BBC) that originally started in 1971 as Masterpiece Theatre. In the 1980s, a Mystery! arm was added to the roster, which focused on British detective and crime dramas featuring excellent casts, intricate plotlines, and often bucolic English backdrops. Since the early aughts, these enigmatic concepts have lived under a broader umbrella dubbed Masterpiece. No matter mood nor time of year, they’re a cure-all of sorts—like Italian Penicillin for the soul.

I was a junior in high school when my mom introduced me to Masterpiece. After homework was completed, and amid my coming-of-age mood swings, we cozied up in the family room and bonded over Endeavour. A prequel to the beloved Inspector Morse starring Shaun Evans as the young Endeavour Morse in Oxford, I was hooked from the first episode. Everything from Evans’ sad eyes to the soundtrack of hauntingly beautiful opera music and labyrinth-like stories distracted us—me from teenage angst and her from long days as an attorney. This was just the start of my love affair with these programs. Over the course of more than a decade, I’ve become a connoisseur. From the modern retelling of Sir Athur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock to the crime-fighting vicars of Grantchester, I’ve watched enough of them to feel confident that I could personally discern if and how the butler did it.

With time, I’ve realized these experiences don’t have to stay solely on the screen. Although actually stepping into the shoes of a detective chief inspector isn’t possible, visiting the places they fictionally protect is actually quite easy. After binge-watching your favorite mystery shows, it’s your turn to choose your own adventure from vintage shopping along the bustling streets of London to punting down rivers in quaint towns across the English countryside. Here are some of the most beautiful destinations to inspire your own Masterpiece-themed adventure.

London, England

As the largest city in the United Kingdom with almost 9 million residents, London is always the star of its own show. From thriving nightlife and an iconic music scene, to the largest Chinatown in Europe and plenty of historic landmarks, it’s impossible to run out of ways to entertain yourself. Its frenzied energy, crowded sidewalks, and impressive skyline are a dream come true for any director, which is why it’s often the choice backdrop for Masterpiece.

One such example is Sherlock. A modern retelling of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles’ novels featuring the phenomenal duo of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the intense, four-season show is set in The Big Smoke. Sherlock-fueled itineraries can include stops by the Sherlock Holmes Museum (which can be found at the real 221B Baker Street), a trip to the quaint Speedy’s Sandwich Bar and Cafe (which was the filming location for the Baker Street flat), or a stroll around the outside of the striking St Bartholomew’s Hospital (where Holmes and Watson often met amid cases). Otherwise, snag your own deerstalker cap from Lock & Co. Hatters, moodily muse at the city from a sky-high perch like the Madison Rooftop Bar, and discuss cold-case conspiracy theories with your friends over stiff drinks.

A trip inspired by the prequel to Prime Suspect, which famously launched Helen Mirren into legendary status, Prime Suspect: Tennison is a more nostalgic, less chaotic route for London. For a refresher, the three-part miniseries tells the story of then 22-year-old Police Constable Jane Tennison as she navigates chauvinism and dreadful crimes in the 1970s. To channel Tennison’s lifestyle, we recommend first rooting around the expansive Alfies Antique Market for a decade-accurate civilian outfit and accessories (flared jeans, vests, and winged eyeliner are her signature). Next, track down old-school music that she might’ve listened to drop by the three-story Out on the Floor Records store, which boasts an impressive selection of ’70s vinyl. Finally, cosplay post-police station decompression with a few drinks at Central London’s most fuss-free pubs like Audley Public House, The Newman Arms, and The Grenadier.

Oxford, England

Home to one of the world’s most prestigious universities, Oxford is beloved for its stunning Baroque and Gothic architecture, dreamy green spaces, and walkability. It’s also where Endeavour Morse spent two years of his college education before dropping out, later returning to become a detective constable under the discerning eye of Detective Inspector Fred Thursday. The academia-seeped Endeavour series is a melancholic and thoughtful introduction into the beginnings of Morse’s career in the 1960s over the course of nine seasons.

No matter what version of Morse you’re most attached to (seeing that he oscillates regularly between tormented and heartbroken to focused and hopeful), there’s an Endeavour-style getaway for you. If the Oxford campus is of main interest, tourists can explore the ornate stacks of the more than four century-old Bodleian Library, in which Morse once chases around and gets stabbed by a suspect in its subterranean archives. Turl Street is another can’t-miss. Featured throughout the show via a fictional pet store and jewelry shop, the real avenue is an idyllic drag of university entrances (Exeter College, Jesus College, and Lincoln College) and charming small businesses like Scriptum stationary store and Mahogany hairdressers. To share in Morse’s adoration of opera music, keep tabs on the Oxford Opera Company, as they regularly host performances around the city.

Ystad, Sweden

Sometimes, for reasons that are never really made clear, your forlorn detectives with English accents are supposed to be Swedish. Starring the sublime Sir Kenneth Branagh, Wallander centers around the scruffy, existentialist inspector Kurt Wallander and the haunting murder cases he solves around the coastal town of Ystad. Originally a book series by Henning Mankell, the series was modified to English for this on-screen adaptation. With steady rain, wind, and cloudy skies throughout the year (although summers can present mild temperatures and blue skies), Ystad is the ideal backdrop for channeling Wallender’s brooding manner.

In the books, the police station is modeled after the real Ystad police station, but for the TV series it was filmed within a temporary set built by the local Ystad Studios film production company. Actually existing filming locations where plenty of drama ensued includes the cobblestoned town square, the red brick-covered railway station, and the Hagestad nature preserve. While exploring the streets, drop by stores like Konsthantverkarna i Ystad and Oberg’s Fashion House for wool sweaters and wind breakers similar to what cast members wear to stay warm. Not specific to the show, but sourced from the books, travelers can visit Wallendar’s favorite thinking spot: Ale’s Stones. A mythical collection of 50 massive boulders organized in an oval shape just outside of Ystad, no one really knows their purpose or how they got there. The intrigue of it all is very fitting for a mystery-centric itinerary.

Grantchester, England

The premise of Grantchester is vicars fighting crime and tending to their parish in the idyllic English countryside in the 1950s. No, seriously. Over the course of its nine seasons, the show’s main character has been played by various dashingly handsome actors. First there was James Norton as Sidney Chambers, then Tom Brittany as William Davenport, and now Rishi Nair as Alphy Kotteram. Each of the contemplative vicars somehow become involved in sleuthing alongside the shrewd Detective Inspector Geordie Keating and spend their free time outside the church uncovering clues and solving mysteries.

Even better, Grantchester is a real place. Only about an hour-and-a-half drive outside of London, the quiet village consists of thatched-roof cottages, grazing livestock, and only about 600 residents. Throughout the show, the vicars have been known to enjoy a whiskey (or six) and with only four pubs in town, a Grantchester-themed bar crawl is light work. Best laid plan: Start at The Blue Ball Inn for a cask ale, follow with a stop by the recently reopened The Rupert Brooke, next up The Red Lion for some sustenance like a sausage roll, and close out at The Grantchester Green Man for trivia and live music. You can also admire the architecture inside the Anglican church that the vicars call home, which is called The Church of Saint Andrew and Saint Mary—parts of which date back to the 12th century. For those purposely seeking out the show’s pastoral scenery, pack a picnic basket, plop down a blanket under a willow tree, and spend the day along the River Cam.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The show Baptiste kicks off by introducing viewers to the once indomitable French detective Julien Baptiste, as he recovers from recent brain surgery. Newly retired, Baptiste feels as though he is a shadow of the talent he once was. But, in a tried-and-true detective manner, he is sucked back into sleuthing when a concerning case is brought to him by a friend. He then embarks on a journey to find a young, missing girl, named Natalie, alongside the Dutch police and the girl’s alleged (and suspicious) uncle.

Only the first season of Baptiste is filmed in Amsterdam, but there’s travel inspiration to be sourced from the six episodes. Inspired by scenes in the first episode, when a farmer finds the missing girl’s necklace on his land, a visit to a Dutch tulip farm from late March to mid-May is a classic. Two less-crowded options, each about an hour outside of Amsterdam, include De Tulperij and Flevoland. Baptiste is also often seen searching for Natalie in the frenzied, dark corners of the red light district. Of course, if you would prefer to avoid his high levels of anxiety, you could always opt for a peaceful stroll through the nearby Hortus Botanicus garden (which is one of the oldest in the world) or a lighthearted stop by the world’s first condom specialty store Condomerie.

Although Natalie tragically (and accidentally) passes away under her houseboat in episode two, some viewers might still find themselves drawn to the nautical lodgings. If so, there’s plenty of affordable Airbnbs to book for your trip like this stylish, but rustic option and this light-filled modern choice.

Glasgow, Scotland

When it comes to the waterways of Scotland’s most populous city, the Glasgow Marine Homicide Unit is there to save the day. Well, not actually, since it’s a fictional policing unit created for Annika. Nevertheless, Masterpiece fans welcomed this divergence from the typical police trope led by the talented Nicola Walker. As head of the newly formed outfit, Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed is an eccentric main character, surprising watchers as she regularly breaks the fourth wall to draw parallels between Norwegian folklore and the active case.

Throughout the show, all of the murders are water related and Strandhed uses a boat as her main mode of transportation. With hundreds of miles of coastline in Glasgow, there’s plenty of ways to get out on the water from sea kayaking with the volunteer-run Drumchapel and Clydebank Kayak Club to speed boat tours by Glasgow City Boats (that can closely replicate Strandhed’s penchant for quick acceleration). You might also recognize the Beacon Arts Centre, as the creative venue was transformed into the marine unit’s base of operations. Although the set isn’t still up for you to tour, fans can grab a drink from the cafe and explore the gallery spaces. About a 45-minute drive (and a much quicker boat ride) away in Loch Lomond is where DI Strandhed’s home is located. Here, you can embark on stunning hikes within the Loch Lomond and The Trossach’s National Park or the West Highland Way and spot wildlife similar to that in the show like egrets.

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