Top family TV shows on Netflix UK (2023)

Ivan | On 18, Feb 2022

With a large number of households spending more time in the same home together, streaming services are handier than ever: they’re full of TV shows that are suitable for the young, the not so young and the positively ancient.

Need something to please most or all of the above? We round up the top TV series on Netflix UK to watch with your little kids, growing tweens and older teens. (We indicate the ones not suitable for younger viewers. For something to watch with the younger family members, see our guide to the best kids’ TV shows on Netflix UK.)

Lost in Space

This superbly judged reboot of the 60s classic sci-fi is set 30 years in the future, when colonisation in space is now a reality, and the Robinson family is among those tested and selected to make a new life for themselves in a better world. But when the new colonists find themselves abruptly torn off course en route to their new home, they must forge new alliances and work together to survive in a dangerous alien environment, lightyears from their original destination. Ambitious, sweet and enormously fun, it offers that rare thing on TV: a genuine family blockbuster.

Watch on Netflix UK

Our Planet

These days, the adults need reminding about the dangers of climate change more than the kids, but both can be brought together by the stunning footage of wildlife around the world on Netflix’s jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring documentary series. David Attenborough narrates with insight, enthusiasm and urgency. (Warning: One scene involving walruses may be a tad upsetting.)

Watch on Netflix UK

Trollhunters

Don’t you hate it when you find out that underneath your nice, normal town sits a gargantuan hidden world of monsters wanting to kill you? That’s what happens to Jim Lake Jr. (Anton Yelchin) in Trollhunters, Guillermo del Toro’s new animated series. The world underneath his suburb of Arcadia? That’s where the trolls live. And Jim? He’s the new Trollhunter, after he picks up an amulet that transforms him into a gleaming warrior, complete with humongous sword.

Trolls. Hunting. Magical worlds. These are all the best words for Guillermo del Toro fans and he doesn’t disappoint, taking the premise from his own book and running with it as far as his imagination can take him – and that’s a very long way. An epic animation stuffed with creativity, this is a treat for del Toro fans that will soon turn their kids into fans too.

Watch on Netflix UK

A Series of Unfortunate Events

The streaming giant’s adaptation of the Lemony Snicket novels stars Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, the nefarious distant relative of orphans Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire (Malina Weissman, Louis Hynes, Presley Smith), who will stop at nothing – including using his dubious acting skills – to get his hands on the fortune they have inherited.

Created by Lemony Snicket author Daniel Handler, who exec produces the programme with Barry Sonnenfeld, the result has been anything but unfortunate.

“A spirit of old-fashioned adventure courses through every chapter, which should earn the show a host of loyal and devoted fans,” we wrote in our review of Season 1. “Clever inventions, exhilarating escapades, ludicrous villains and macabre humour? Like we say, you really shouldn’t watch it.”

Watch on Netflix UK

Pokemon: Indigo League

“I want to be the very best…” If you’ve never seen Pokemon or have to ask why this is on the list, stop reading now and start watching. Suitable for absolutely everyone. As long as you don’t mind having the theme tune stuck in your head for weeks afterwards.

Watch on Netflix UK

Goosebumps

The balance between spooky and traumatising is hard to judge – so much so that there are few shows around these days that cater to scaring older kids. Goosebumps, the 1990s adaptation of R.L. Stine’s books, gets it just right.

Watch on Netflix UK

Last Chance U

Friday Night Lights may not be on Netflix UK, but this is the next best thing for older teens: a documentary series following the trials and tribulations of high-school footballers in the USA. Gripping, gruelling, engrossing stuff, it’s ideal for sports fans and football players alike.

Watch on Netflix UK

Haters Back Off!

If you’re too old to dive into the world of YouTube with your kids, this is the perfect answer for some quality parent-child streaming, as Miranda Sings gets her own solo series, depicting her rise to supposed Internet stardom as a singer – despite having no talent whatsoever. Alan Partridge for teens, you’ll wince at the deliberately bad vocals of this one-joke character, but as the show goes on, a surprisingly layered portrayal of delusion and fame emerges. At the very least, you’ll know who Miranda Sings is.

Watch on Netflix UK

Gilmore Girls

Amy Sherman-Palladino’s series about a single mother and ehr daughter is full of witty dialogue, winning romance and realistic coming-of-age dilemmas, which makes it perfect for mother-daughter viewing among mid-teens and up. Drink, swearing and innuendo is present, but front and centre is the kind of charming relationship that every family wishes they had.

Watch on Netflix UK

The Get Down

Baz Luhrmann brings to life the birth of hip-hop in 1970s New York with his stunning series, which showcases his knack for blending the musical with the cinematic. We follow a group of kids in the crumbling, graffiti-strewn Bronx, a journey that contains swearing, drugs, gangs and violence – but with a catchy soundtrack and themes ripe for discussion, this is worth trying for families with older teens of 17 and up.

Watch on Netflix UK

Dragons: Race to the Edge

Netflix’s spin-off from the How to Train Your Dragon franchise is by far the best of its DreamWorks series, thanks to the combination of a largely retained voice cast and inventive creature designs.

Watch on Netflix UK

Green Eggs and Ham

Dr. Seuss has had an uneven history on our screens, but this latest series – which, inevitably, departs from the book significantly – boasts an impressive, likeable voice cast (including Michael Douglas, Adam Devine, Tracy Morgan and John Turturro) but it’s the visuals that really impress.

Watch on Netflix UK

Hilda

Hilda, a fearless blue-haired girl, travels from a wilderness full of elves and giants to a bustling city packed with new friends and mysterious creatures in this fantasy based on the graphic novels by Luke Pearson. Engaging, mature, imaginative and charming.

Watch on Netflix UK

Chef’s Table

Director David Gelb’s follow-up to Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the streaming service’s first original docu-series – and, alongside Making a Murderer and Marvel’s superhero action, it’s easy to see why a non-fiction programme about food would be overlooked, especially as it’s the kind of show you might find on a traditional TV channel. But that’s precisely what makes this a bold move for the streaming site, as it broadens its horizons. More importantly, it’s really good, as the diverse array of worldwide cooks and their personal stories of inspiration and technique – not to mention the endless shots of food porn – add up to one mouth-watering dish.

Watch on Netflix UK

Merlin

“In a land of myth and a time of magic…” Merlin began as a blatant attempt to recapture Doctor Who’s Saturday teatime appeal, but as the show developed, it became a winning fantasy adventure in its own right – not least because of the superb Colin Morgan as the charming young wizard.

Watch on Netflix UK

Avatar: The Last Airbender

Not impressed by the movie? Put M. Night Shyamalan’s adaptation out of your mind: the original animated series is far more impressive. Already binged it? The Legend of Korra is available too and it’s just as timeless.

Watch on Netflix UK

Voltron: Legendary Defender

Netflix’s reboot of the 1980s anime (which sees five unsuspecting teens transported from Earth into the middle of a sprawling intergalactic war, where they become pilots for five robotic lions) might be the best thing to happen to cartoons since The Legend of Korra. And just like The Last Airbender and Korra before it, the show delivers kinetic action sequences and moments of Disney-like mirth at the same time. This will fire the imagination of kids everywhere.

Watch on Netflix UK

Teen Titans Go!

This hilarious, self-aware follow-up to the popular Teen Titans series takes a more comedic look at superheroes including Robin, Raven and Starfire – the ideal counterpoint to Netflix’s gritty Titans.
Watch on Netflix UK

Steven Universe

Steven Universe is a half-human, half-Gem hero who’s learning to save the world with the magical powers that come from his bellybutton. A quirky celebration of kindness for a PG audience.

Watch on Netflix UK

Carmen Sandiego

Netflix’s stylish and surprisingly educational update of the spy/thief series is a solid slice of animated adventure.

Watch on Netflix UK

Derry Girls

Every now and then, a TV show comes along with a voice that feels utterly unique. Derry Girls is one of them. From Northern Irish writer Lisa McGee, the candid, family-centred comedy set against the backdrop of The Troubles is stuffed with hysterical dialogue, instantly fully-formed characters and a bracing ability to turn its context into surtext with wit and heart. One of the best new comedies of the last decade, this is ideal for families with teens aged 15 and up.

Watch on Netflix UK

Glee

Ryan Murphy’s a capella series starts strong with its inclusive, progressive and upbeat portrayal of high school – and proves that singing along with music on the telly can bring teens and grown-ups together.

Watch on Netflix UK

Anne with an E

For 12 and up, this adaptation of Anne of Green Gables is an inspiring coming-of-age story of an outsider who, against all odds and numerous challenges, fights for acceptance, for her place in the world, and for love. It’s a tale that prefers to imagine than remember, and it’s all the better for it. As a result, there’s always a silver lining to every cloud, a live-life-with-no-regrets resilience that remains uniquely recognisable and undeniably heart-warming.

Watch on Netflix UK

Riverdale

For older teens who want something a little edgier, and for adults who want to play spot-the-horror-movie-reference, this gothic teen drama is absurdly stylish, absurdly entertaining and often simply just absurd.

Watch on Netflix UK

Raising Dion

Based on a short film, this superbly thoughtful superhero drama follows Nicole (Alisha Wainwright), a mother who realises her son has super powers. Raising the seven-year-old boy (Ja’Siah Young) after the death of her husband, Mark, she must keep her son’s gifts secret with the help of Mark’s best friend, Pat, and protect Dion from those out to exploit him. The result is a moving and heartfelt exploration of growing up without a positive male role model, as well as a fresh spin on the wonder of comic books. Suitable for those aged 12 and up.

Watch on Netflix UK

Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices

Celebrity readers share children’s books by Black authors to spark kid-friendly conversations about empathy, equality, self-love and antiracism – and that wonderfully well-intentioned premise is executed with a stellar line-up of readers, from Tiffany Haddish reading I Love My Hair to Lupia Nyong’o reading Sulwe and Common reading Let’s Talk About Race.

Watch on Netflix UK

Buddy Thunderstruck

“A sure sign that a show is going to be a hit with kids is if some adults start worrying that it’s not entirely wholesome. By some stretch, Netflix’s Buddy Thunderstruck is one such show – during its first few minutes, as the younglings howl with laughter, accompanying adults will frown and quietly check the certificate. No, it’s down as a PG and the protagonists are cute furry animals and – wait, did that wart-hog just shout “fart nuggets”? Yes, Mom. Yes, Dad. He did.

Featuring the adventures of the titular Buddy Thunderstruck, a truck-driving dog, and his ferret mechanic, Darnell, it’s set in the town of Greasepit, a town that’s typically Deep South USA, only without the racism and guns and, well, humans. It’s dizzyingly fast-moving, each of the 48 12-minute stories (two per episode) powered by a slight and silly plot of the sort The Simpsons might come up with, with similarly unpredictable plot twists.” Read our full review

Watch on Netflix UK

Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous

Unfolding in the same timeline as the Jurassic World movie, we join a new adventure camp on the other side of the island, where a group of six teens find themselves out of sight and out of mind as they have to survive a dream gone very wrong, with a growing number of dinosaurs running amok. The result is entertaining, but also a surprisingly dark ride – for younger teens who enjoy a sense of danger, this is a worthy companion to the big screen franchise.

Watch on Netflix UK

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts

The Great Mutant Outbreak of 2017 caused creatures to grow to an incredible size and develop incredible intelligence, forcing humans to scatter for underground. After a giant mutant attack dumps her on the surface far away from her Terrarium home, Kipo gets a crash course on apocalyptic survival. She soon bands together with other surface dwellers – both human and mutant – on her journey to locate home, her father and the missing people of her underground city. That’s the starting point for this visually spectacular and imaginative animated adventure, which is bursting with imagination and vibrant creatures and also features a wonderfully low-key coming out moment.

Watch on Netflix UK

Kid Cosmic

The words “The Powerpuff Girls” are enough to get anyone’s attention, but this new show from creator Craig McCracken stands up in its own right – a silly superhero adventure that sees a young boy discover 5 Cosmic Stones of Power that he gives out to local residents to become the unlikeliest good guys imaginable – including a multiplying old man and a cat who can see the future. Great sci-fi fun.

Watch on Netflix UK