Finding exactly where to watch Ghosts UK shouldn't be as difficult as communicating with a headless Tudor nobleman, but the streaming world is a messy place. You probably know the drill. You hear about a show that’s essentially "the best British sitcom in a decade," you search for it, and you’re met with a wall of "not available in your region" or "buy for £15.99." It’s annoying. I get it. Honestly, after five seasons and a Christmas special that genuinely made me cry, the Button House crew has become a staple of comfort TV. Whether you’re a die-hard fan looking for a rewatch or a newcomer wondering why everyone is obsessed with a caveman named Robin, there are specific, legal ways to get your fix.
The show, created by the original Horrible Histories troupe (Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, and Ben Willbond), wrapped up its final series in late 2023. This means the entire library is out there. It’s sitting on servers right now. You just need to know which button to press.
The Absolute Best Place to Stream Ghosts Right Now
If you are in the United Kingdom, the answer is simple. BBC iPlayer. It’s the home of the show. It’s where it was born.
Every single episode—from the pilot where Alison falls out of a window to the emotional finale—is available for free. Well, "free" assuming you pay your TV license. The BBC has been pretty good about keeping their flagship comedies available for long stretches. Unlike some US streamers that delete content for tax write-offs, the BBC treats Ghosts like the crown jewel it is. You get the crispest quality and, more importantly, the specific UK edits.
Why does that matter? Because the pacing of British comedy is a delicate thing. When you watch it on the native platform, you’re seeing exactly what the creators intended without weird commercial break inserts that weren't supposed to be there.
What About the US Audience?
Things get a bit more "international" here. For a long time, HBO Max (now just Max) was the primary home for the British version of Ghosts. However, licensing deals are like ghosts themselves—they tend to vanish when you least expect it. Currently, CBS has been airing the UK version to fill gaps in their schedule, but for on-demand streaming, Paramount+ has become the heavy hitter.
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There is a catch. Sometimes platforms only carry the first few seasons. If you’re looking for where to watch Ghosts UK in America and Paramount+ is failing you, BritBox is your secondary sanctuary. It’s the platform specifically designed for Anglophiles. It’s also where you’ll find the behind-the-scenes specials which, frankly, are essential viewing if you want to see how they did the visual effects for Julian’s lack of trousers.
Why You Shouldn't Confuse it With the American Version
We have to talk about it. There is a US remake. It’s also called Ghosts.
It’s fine. It’s actually quite successful. But it’s a different beast entirely. If you search for where to watch Ghosts UK and you end up seeing a trailer with a Viking and a hippie, you’ve taken a wrong turn. You want the one with the Georgian poet who can't stop talking about his "prose" and the Boy Scout leader with an arrow through his neck.
The UK version has a specific "crustiness" to it. It’s damp. It’s grey. It feels like a real, crumbling English manor. The US version is bright, shiny, and very network-TV. If you want the original, make sure the thumbnail features Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe. They play Alison and Mike, the couple who inherit the house, and their chemistry is the grounded heart that keeps the supernatural elements from becoming too silly.
The Physical Media Route (Yes, It Still Matters)
I’m going to be a bit of a dinosaur here. Buy the DVDs.
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Streaming services are fickle. One day Ghosts is there, the next day a contract expires and it’s gone into the digital ether. If you truly love the show, the "Complete Collection" DVD box set is often found on Amazon or HMV for less than the cost of two months of a streaming subscription.
- No Buffering: Your internet goes down? Doesn't matter. The Captain is still there.
- Special Features: The UK DVD releases are packed with bloopers. Watching the cast break character is arguably as funny as the show itself.
- Ownership: You actually own it. No one can "revoke" your access because a merger happened in a boardroom in New York.
Honestly, the commentary tracks on the earlier seasons provide a wealth of information about how they filmed in West Horsley Place, the actual house in Surrey that stands in for Button House. You find out things like which rooms were actually too dangerous to stand in because the floors were rotting. That's the kind of trivia that makes a rewatch better.
A Quick Warning on "Free" Third-Party Sites
You’ll see them in the search results. Sites with names that look like a cat stepped on a keyboard, promising free streams. Don't do it. Aside from the obvious legal and ethical issues, these sites are absolute magnets for malware.
More importantly, these creators deserve the views on official platforms. The Horrible Histories troupe spent years refining this concept. When you watch on iPlayer, Paramount+, or BritBox, you’re signaling to networks that high-quality, ensemble-led character comedy is worth investing in.
Breaking Down the Seasons
If you're just starting, here’s how the journey looks:
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- Series 1: The setup. Alison dies (briefly), sees ghosts, panic ensues.
- Series 2: The ghosts start to accept their "life" with the living.
- Series 3 & 4: Deep dives into the backstories. We finally learn how Mary was burned at the stake and why the Captain is so... repressed.
- Series 5: The final bow. It’s short, punchy, and leads into a Christmas finale that is a masterclass in bittersweet storytelling.
International Workarounds
If you’re in a country where no one has bought the rights—maybe you’re in a remote corner of the world where British sitcoms haven't landed—a VPN is your best friend. By setting your location to the UK, you can access the BBC iPlayer website. You’ll need to confirm you have a TV license, but technically, that’s the most direct path to the source. It’s a bit of a grey area for some, but for fans in Australia or parts of Europe where licensing is a nightmare, it’s the only way to stay current.
What to Watch After You Finish
Once you've exhausted every episode and you're feeling that post-show void, don't despair. The "Ghosts" universe is actually a "Baynton-Farnaby-Howick" universe.
Check out Yonderland. It’s a puppet-filled fantasy show by the same cast. It’s weirder, more surreal, and just as funny. Or go back to the roots with Horrible Histories (the early seasons). You’ll see the exact moment these actors developed the shorthand that makes Ghosts feel so effortless.
Watching these actors work together for fifteen years is a rare joy. It's why the chemistry in Button House feels so lived-in. They aren't just actors; they're a comedy troupe that has grown up together.
Your Next Steps to Button House
Stop scrolling and start watching. Here is the move:
- Check BBC iPlayer first. If you’re in the UK, it’s all there. Don’t look anywhere else.
- Verify your subscription. If you're in the US, check Paramount+ or BritBox. Search specifically for "Ghosts UK" to avoid the remake.
- Look for the Christmas Specials. They are often listed separately from the main series seasons. Don't skip them; they contain vital plot points.
- Invest in the box set. If you find yourself rewatching episodes to fall asleep (it’s a great "comfort" show), just buy the physical copies and be done with it.
The show is a rare gem that manages to be cynical, slapstick, and profoundly moving all at once. Whether it’s Humphrey’s body wandering around aimlessly or Kitty’s unending optimism in the face of her tragic past, every character is a layer of a perfectly baked cake. Go find it, sit down, and enjoy the haunt.