How to Improve English Listening with Historical Dramas: From The Crown to Downton Abbey

Watching TV shows in English is one of the most enjoyable ways to improve your listening. But not all shows work the same. If you're an intermediate or upper-intermediate learner, historical dramas like The Crown and Downton Abbey are absolute gold.

Why? Because the speech is generally clear, the accents are standard British English (RP – Received Pronunciation), and the dialogue is rich with real-life vocabulary. Plus, the stories are gripping – you actually want to understand what's happening.

So how do you turn a passive binge session into an active listening workout? Here are a few practical tips.

Start with English Subtitles, then Wean Off

Many learners make the mistake of using subtitles in their native language. That turns listening into reading. Instead, put English subtitles on first. Your eyes help your ears connect sounds to written words. After one or two episodes, switch the subtitles off. You'll be surprised how much you already understand.

If a scene feels too fast, rewind. Watch it again with subtitles, then without. This repetition builds automatic recognition.

Focus on Specific Accents

The Crown covers standard Queen’s English, but some characters (like Princess Margaret) speak with a slight aristocratic drawl. Downton Abbey has a wider range: upper-class slow speech, servant’s faster regional accents, and even some Scottish (Mr. Bates).

Make a game of it. Pause after a line and guess the character’s social class or region. Then check the subtitles. This trains your ear to pick up differences in tone, stress, and rhythm.

Shadow Speaking – Repeat What You Hear

Shadowing means repeating a character’s line immediately after they say it, with the same intonation and speed. Choose a short, clear line from a slow scene. Say it out loud. Don’t worry about sounding silly – it works wonders for both listening and pronunciation.

Start with the Queen’s measured, unhurried speech. Then try the sharp, witty lines of the Dowager Countess. Each character gives you a different listening challenge.

Use Context to Guess Unknown Words

Historical dramas are packed with period-specific words – “entail”, “debutante”, “dispatch box”. You don’t need to know them all. The story context often makes the meaning clear. If a character says “I must send a dispatch box to the palace,” you can figure out it’s a container for official papers.

When you guess correctly, the word sticks better than any dictionary lookup.

Not All Episodes Are Equal

Some episodes are dense with political talk; others are quiet, emotional scenes. For listening practice, skip the action-heavy battles or music montages. Instead, focus on dialogue-heavy scenes: dinner conversations, arguments, or private meetings.

Here’s a quick comparison of the two shows to help you choose:

Don’t Forget to Test Yourself

After a few episodes, check your progress. Can you understand a 5-minute scene without any subtitles? Can you write down three new phrases you heard and use them in a sentence? This self-testing turns passive watching into active learning.

Historical dramas give you a window into British culture, manners, and history – while sharpening your ear for natural English. Give it a try with one episode of The Crown this week.

Ready to see how far your listening has come? Take our free English level test at English Measure – it covers Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Get your CEFR level in under 30 minutes. Start here: Test your English

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