.jpg?q=50&fit=contain&w=1140&h=&dpr=1.5)
In any story, no matter the genre, the setting plays a fundamental role in crafting a memorable narrative. When regarding romantic comedies especially, there's something about the location that contributes to both the appeal of where characters go, but at the same time, what they do. Notting Hill is literally named after West London's district, likely becoming a massive tourist location because of the film's popularity if it wasn't already because of its colorful buildings. Movies set in New York often take viewers through the busy streets and bustling noises to develop love stories further.
As viewers, it's always fascinating to know where the story is taking its appeal from and why. No matter what the storyline is, whether we're venturing into fantasy worlds like Westeros in Game of Thrones, Hogwarts in Harry Potter, or the actual corners of Richmond, England, the location we find ourselves in makes the story better, cozier, and more memorable. Various places, football teams, and even train stations become staples for us to remember where certain big moments occurred. We'll bet that millions get a little emotional every time they remember where the Brown family first discovered Paddington bear. Now, while Paddington has tragically yet to make an appearance on a TV show, we've compiled a list of the best romantic comedies that take place in London.
8 Catastrophe
There aren't many romance fans who'd call the accidental pregnancy a favorite trope, but if there's any series that gets it right, it's Prime Video's Catastrophe. Starring Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, the series is set on location in London when Sharon finds herself pregnant with Rob's baby during a brief fling. (Yes, their characters are also called Sharon and Rob.) The series sees the couple navigating through parenthood, choosing one another, then ending with the type of finale that's still debated today because much is left up to interpretation for the audience. The late Carrie Fisher also makes a few appearances in the show, making it much more necessary to add to everyone's list.
7 Ghosts (BBC)
Before CBS' Ghosts, the original BBC series took us through Allison Cooper's (Charlotte Ritchie) inheritance of an old haunted estate full of ghosts from almost every era. The series, like the remake, is a romantic comedy that places Allison and her husband Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) front and center of wild haunts as they attempt to figure out what they're meant to do with the inn, the ghosts, and everything else in the process. Additionally, while Button House is a fictional name, the series is often filmed on-location in a real manor called West Horsley Place in Surrey, England.
6 Trying
Apple TV's Trying is an underrated, wholesome treasure that feels like a warm embrace on a frigid winter night. It stars Esther Smith and Rafe Spall as Nikki and Jason, a young couple living in London while on a journey to expand their circle through adoption. The delightfully colorful series frequently takes us to Camden market while also allowing us to see some of the most innately human interactions in any romantic comedy. More often than not, this genre focuses on the earlier stages of couples getting together and leaving us with a happy ending; Trying instead takes us through all the hurdles afterward, making a clear statement about how some of the best things in life take place in the in-between.
5 Starstruck
BBC's Starstruck, which also airs on HBO Max, starring comedic mastermind Rose Matafeo and utter heartthrob Nikesh Patel, is the most realistic showcase of the celebrity and average person trope. In the series, Matafeo plays Jessie, a New Zealand resident trying to work her way around London when she has a one-night stand with actor Tom Kapoor (Patel) without realizing he's famous. The two later embark on a romance where they attempt to make their differences work, showcasing that they're both ultimately struggling in more ways than one, creating the kind of series that's both entertaining and shockingly relatable.
4 This Way Up
This Way Up, starring Aisling Bea, Sharon Horgan, Tobias Menzies, Aasif Mandvi, and more, is a romantic comedy that centers around two sisters, Bea and Horgan's Áine and Shona, two Irish sisters living in London. The series is a relatable showcase of what it looks like to navigate through day-to-day activities while suffering through anxiety. Both sisters not only deal with their own growth, but the series allows them the freedom to seize agency in romantic relationships as well, making the show not only hilarious but compelling.
3 Lovesick
Lovesick, now exclusively on Netflix, is one of the most riveting shows on television. It follows Dylan (Johnny Flynn) on a quest to revisit all his ex-girlfriends to notify them that he has chlamydia. At the same time, it's a budding romance between him and his best friend, Evie (Antonia Thomas). The series takes viewers through various neighborhoods in London as well as the woods in one of the series' most hilarious and game-changing episodes. The gripping narrative also deserves immense praise for not utilizing the love triangle trope as frequently as romantic comedies do but choosing instead to offer an unconventional look at what it means for men and women to be friends.
2 Fleabag
Fleabag might not end with a happily ever after as romantic comedies should, but Phoebe Waller Bridge's brilliant comedy is one of the best series ever to grace our screens. It's heartbreaking, hilarious, achingly profound, and the streets of London have never felt cozier even while they leave us broken. Still, Fleabag is incredibly creative as its second season essentially cements that "this is a love story," with the titular character breaking the fourth wall to tell us so. And despite the detail that she and the Hot Priest (Andrew Scott) don't end up together, theirs is a love story still worth watching.
1 Ted Lasso
Ted Lasso might not be overtly classified as a romantic comedy, but it features one of the best romances we've ever watched on TV through Roy Kent and Keeley Jones (Brett Goldstein and Juno Temple, respectively). Never has another series meant to be about football focused an entire episode on the essence of romantic comedies before, as Ted Lasso does in Season 2, Episode 5, "Rainbow." Further, while the third season has yet to air, the titular character, played to perfection by Jason Sudeikis, essentially promises viewers that "it will all work out." On Ted Lasso, viewers won't just care about every character, but a fictional football team will feel like home, pubs like the Crown & Anchor will be a cozy escape, and a single street will bring a plethora of warmth on top of everything else.