The BEST episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs

Every episode of Upstairs, Downstairs ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs!

Covering a span of 27 years (1903-1930), Upstairs, Downstairs follows the lives of the wealthy Bellamy family residing upstairs at 165 Eaton Place, London, as well as the lives of those employed in their service living downstairs. Richard Bellamy, the son of a poor parson, is married to Lady Marjorie, the daughter of the wealthy Earl and Countess of Southwold, whose family money provides for the Bellamy's lavish lifestyle. As an influential member of the Conservative party, the Earl secures a seat in Parliament for Richard, with the expectation that he will support conservative policies. He tries his best to please his wife's family but, being a Liberal at heart, Richard finds it's not always that easy. These political and financial differences are a reoccurring source of contention for the Bellamys. On the surface, the lives of the family living upstairs couldn't seem more different than those of the servants living below but, strangely enough, through the years their lives often intersect, becoming increasingly entwined as time goes by. The addition of real-life events, like the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic and the horrors of World War I, incorporated into the storylines add a touch of authenticity and realism to the show.

Last Updated: 3/20/2024Network: ITV1Status: Ended
Share:
A Special Mischief
star
9.32
38 votes

#1 - A Special Mischief

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/29/1972

While her parents are away, Elizabeth gets involved in the suffragette movement. Rose attempts to keep her out of trouble but the situation ends badly, requiring Elizabeth to seek help from Julius Karekin, an influential man she just met.

Directors: Raymond Menmuir
Watch Now:Amazon
Whither Shall I Wander?
star
9.23
66 votes

#2 - Whither Shall I Wander?

Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 12/21/1975

(Audio commentary available on some DVDs). After nearly 30 years, the Bellamy saga ends with the sale of 165 Eaton Place and a fresh beginning for every member of the household.

Directors: Bill Bain
Watch Now:Amazon
All the King's Horses
star
9.18
65 votes

#3 - All the King's Horses

Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/14/1975

(Audio commentary available on some DVDs). The Wall Street crash hits Eaton Place. October, 1929. After making a killing on Wall Street, James returns to England with his spirits renewed. His homecoming is a joyous one for the Bellamys, despite Richard's doubts as to the soundness of his son's speculations. Indeed, his fears are prophetical; the stock-market crash wipes out James and Rose, who invested her savings on the strength of James' advice. Enraged, Richard berates James over this and past failures, opening old and still painful wounds.

Directors: Simon Langton
Writer: Jeremy Paul
Watch Now:Amazon
A Patriotic Offering
star
9.17
88 votes

#4 - A Patriotic Offering

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/14/1974

Unable to communicate with the Belgian refugees they're expected to look after has left the staff feeling put out, frustrated, and angry. They want the refugees to leave but, after hearing their tragic stories, things change and they're sorry to see them go. Meanwhile, Edward is caught in the middle between those who love him and want him to be safe, and everyone else who make him feel guilty for not enlisting; but after hearing the refugees' stories, he decides to do what he thinks is right, and Daisy is not pleased.

Directors: Derek Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon
Facing Fearful Odds
star
8.81
64 votes

#5 - Facing Fearful Odds

Season 4 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/30/1974

Virginia Hamilton returns to Eaton Place, seeking Richard's advice for her son who is facing a court martial. Meanwhile, Edward is scheduled to go back to France, and James is wallowing in self-pity.

Directors: Raymond Menmuir
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Noblesse Oblige
star
8.79
63 votes

#6 - Noblesse Oblige

Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/7/1975

Better the devil you know than the one you don't is the lesson Mrs. Bridges and Ruby learn after a terrible row. Upstairs, Lord Stockbridge proposes to Georgina, but there's a catch.

Directors: Cyril Coke
Watch Now:Amazon
The Understudy
star
8.76
63 votes

#7 - The Understudy

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/9/1975

On the eve of an important dinner party for a French diplomat, Hudson suffers a heart attack.

Directors: James Ormerod
Writer: Jeremy Paul
Watch Now:Amazon
Will Ye No Come Back Again?
star
8.71
63 votes

#8 - Will Ye No Come Back Again?

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/23/1975

Hudson is back in his element when the Bellamys travel to Scotland for their summer holiday.

Directors: Bill Bain
Watch Now:Amazon
The Wages of Sin
star
8.65
37 votes

#9 - The Wages of Sin

Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/12/1973

With Sarah expecting his baby, she and Thomas are planning to wed, but concerns that the news might not be well received causes Sarah to claim a stranger is the father. Unaware of the truth, Lady Marjorie thinks Thomas is making a huge mistake and threatens to sack him unless he changes his mind, which he refuses to do. Later, when Thomas informs her they'll be working for a neighbor, Lady Marjorie fears they'll divulge the family secrets and demands Richard do something to ensure that doesn't happen.

Watch Now:Amazon
Peace Out of Pain
star
8.64
89 votes

#10 - Peace Out of Pain

Season 4 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/7/1974

Rose receives excellent news, James is depressed about his slow recovery, Richard is courting Virginia, and the Great War is winding down to a victorious conclusion, but there's still one more casualty to be claimed.

Watch Now:Amazon
On with the Dance
star
8.60
91 votes

#11 - On with the Dance

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/7/1975

Eaton Place is enveloped with uncertainty. Edward and Daisy have moved on and been replaced with Frederick Norton, James' servant from the war, and Lily. The newlyweds, Richard and Virginia, and her children, Alica and William, have plans to move into their own home. There's not enough work to keep everyone busy and the house is far too large for James to live there alone, so he decides it's time to sell the house and gives the servants a month's notice.

Directors: Bill Bain
Watch Now:Amazon
The Joy Ride
star
8.56
90 votes

#12 - The Joy Ride

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/28/1975

When James buys a small airplane, Virginia defies Richard, putting the entire household through quite an ordeal.

Directors: Bill Bain
Watch Now:Amazon
The Property of a Lady
star
8.49
39 votes

#13 - The Property of a Lady

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/24/1972

Thomas is approached by a blackmailer who claims to have love letters from Lady Marjorie to Captain Hammond.

Directors: Derek Bennett
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Family Secret
star
8.36
62 votes

#14 - A Family Secret

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/17/1973

James has been secretly courting Hazel Forrest, and soon discovers she's a master at hiding secrets because she's been hiding a really big one from him.

Directors: Derek Bennett
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Nine Days Wonder
star
8.36
64 votes

#15 - The Nine Days Wonder

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/2/1975

The entire household comes together when a General Strike is called throughout Britain in May 1926

Directors: Simon Langton
Writer: Jeremy Paul
Watch Now:Amazon
The Hero's Farewell
star
8.35
92 votes

#16 - The Hero's Farewell

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/16/1974

Lady Prudence commandeers the Bellamy drawing room for a worthy cause. Another London bombing, another close call, and another tragedy is heaped upon the tattered nerves of those at Eaton Place.

Directors: Bill Bain
Watch Now:Amazon
Missing Believed Killed
star
8.29
89 votes

#17 - Missing Believed Killed

Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/23/1974

Grasping at straws, the Bellamy family continue to search for any information to indicate James is still alive, but when Trooper Frederick Norton, James' servant, arrives to deliver James' personal belongings, Hazel loses all hope.

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Watch Now:Amazon
A House Divided
star
8.26
89 votes

#18 - A House Divided

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 11/3/1973

When none of the family members are listed among the Titanic survivors, they must be presumed dead and the entire household goes into mourning. When routine household tasks begin to fall through the cracks, Hazel steps up to help whenever she sees a need. Her thoughtful effort is lost on the servants who feel like she's imposing herself into their lives and trying to take Lady Marjorie's place. It also causes concern for her parents who seem to think the Bellamys will soon have Hazel mopping floors. Everyone is stunned when an unexpected visitor arrives.

Watch Now:Amazon
A Place in the World
star
8.24
91 votes

#19 - A Place in the World

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/1975

After James' Letter to the Editor garners strong public approval. the conservative Tory party, hoping to cash in on his moment of popularity, invite him to run for Parliament as a Tory. James accepts but everyone soon realizes that his progressive views for moving the country forward are not aligned with the party views which want to go back to the way things were before the war. Meanwhile, Edward and Daisy are struggling financially but realize they have friends who love them at Eaton Place.

Writer: Jeremy Paul
Watch Now:Amazon
If You Were the Only Girl in the World
star
8.22
90 votes

#20 - If You Were the Only Girl in the World

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/26/1974

Hazel has a little fling with Lt. Jack Dyson, whom she met at the tea party for wounded officers, and is seen by one of her lady acquaintances. James and Georgina meet in France and share a moment of passion.

Directors: Raymond Menmuir
Watch Now:Amazon
An Object of Value
star
8.18
65 votes

#21 - An Object of Value

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/15/1972

After her father dies, Lady Marjorie has her mother, Lady Southwold come to Eaton Place. When a valuable broach goes missing, finger pointing causes a disruption throughout the household. Meanwhile, Thomas' hopes for a career change are dashed when his potential employer tries to impose himself on Sarah.

Directors: Raymond Menmuir
Writer: Jeremy Paul
Watch Now:Amazon
Wanted: A Good Home
star
8.18
87 votes

#22 - Wanted: A Good Home

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/5/1975

Spring 1922: When William goes off to Prep School, Rose gets Alice a new puppy so she won't be lonely, but when Richard and Virginia go on holiday and leave Miss Treadwell in charge, the entire staff lines up against her when she tries to dispose of the "filthy creature".

Watch Now:Amazon
Word of Honour
star
8.05
62 votes

#23 - Word of Honour

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 12/8/1973

Acting on a tip from a friend, Richard quadruples his stock market investment in a matter of weeks. When it turns out that the company he invested in just landed a government contract, he's accused of insider trading. Richard denies learning about it in Parliament, but refuses to divulge the name of his friend, and when Hazel and Hudson go behind his back to determine his friend's identity, Richard is furious.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Sudden Storm
star
7.99
89 votes

#24 - The Sudden Storm

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/19/1974

On the verge of war, Mrs Bridges receives a marriage proposal but the gentleman quickly loses favor in her eyes. Edward and Daisy declare their love, as do Georgina and Billy, while James and Hazel's relationship hangs on by a thread. When Britain declares war on Germany, James is recalled to the military.

Directors: Bill Bain
Watch Now:Amazon
The Glorious Dead
star
7.99
88 votes

#25 - The Glorious Dead

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/2/1974

Sadly, perhaps inevitably, a double dose of tragic news arrives for those at Eaton Place.

Directors: Raymond Menmuir
Watch Now:Amazon