How to Watch UK TV Abroad Fast From Anywhere in 2025

Are you a British expat hoping to stay up to date on Coronation Street? Perhaps you’re on vacation and want to unwind with a few episodes of Love Island? This isn’t normally possible due to regional restrictions but don’t worry, there’s a quick and easy workaround. Below, we’ll show you how to watch UK TV abroad, no matter where you are, using a VPN. Whether you’re in France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Australia, the USA, or any corner of the globe, we’ve got you covered.

Usually, when you try to access a British streaming platform from abroad, you’ll simply be met with an error. For instance, iPlayer says “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues” while ITVX gives the more vague “Sorry, this show isn’t available right now“. When you connect to a Virtual Private Network, however, your IP address to points to whichever country your chosen server is in. In other words, picking a British server makes you appear as though you’re still in the UK, allowing you to keep streaming your favorite shows, no matter where you are.

Of course, access to UK-only websites isn’t the only reason to use a VPN. These services also help keep your browsing habits hidden from anyone keeping tabs on the network you’re using. That’s particularly helpful for travelers, since they’re often reliant on hotel wifi or other public hotspots. Still, every VPN is different, so it pays to choose carefully.

Just want to find out which VPN to use to watch UK TV from abroad? You’ll find a summary of our top picks below. Alternatively, scroll down for a closer look at each.

Best VPN for UK TV abroad:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN for watching UK TV abroad. A huge network of fast servers, including many in the UK. Easily unblocks geo-restricted content. First-class security and privacy. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for UK TV.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for streaming UK TV. Delivers ultra-fast speeds, allows any number of connections, and works with most popular TV sites.
3. IPVanish: Works with plenty of British streaming platforms and has a large presence in the UK. Offers a high level of privacy, steady speeds, and a total lack of connection limits.
4. ExpressVPN: A quick and versatile VPN that works anywhere. Can help you stream BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Now TV, and more. Doesn’t keep any logs.
5. CyberGhost: Boasts servers specially-designed for watching British TV. Good performance and a high degree of flexibility where security is concerned.
6. ProtonVPN: Impressive VPN with plenty of advanced features, including port-forwarding. Works with popular streaming services including Netflix UK.
7. PureVPN: An easy way to watch British TV abroad without breaking the bank. Strong security, an audited no-logs policy, powerful obfuscation, and a generous connection limit.
8. PrivateVPN: This novice-friendly VPN works well with most British streaming apps but also ensures steady speeds and a high level of security.
   

How to watch UK TV abroad with a VPN

If you’re trying to watch UK TV from Canada, Australia, the US, or anywhere else in the world, you first need to set up a VPN. Never used a VPN before? No problem: just follow the simple steps below to unblock your favorite UK television channels.

Here’s how to watch UK TV online from anywhere:

1. Choose a VPN provider that can unblock UK TV from abroad. We particularly recommend NordVPN.
2. Download and install the VPN app onto your device from the provider’s website or your official app store.
3. Run the app, log in, and select a VPN server in the UK.

   

4. Once the connection has been established, open the site you’d like to access. It should now be usable as though you were still in the UK.
5. If you’re still not able to watch your desired content, we’d suggest you clear your browser cookies and/or cache. Alternatively, try a different server or contact your VPN’s support team for more advice.

We’ve covered access to specific UK streaming sites — BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, Sky Go, and TNT Sports — in separate posts. If you’re looking for the best VPNs to use while in the UK, we have a guide for that, too.

Our criteria for choosing the best VPNs for watching UK TV abroad

You might assume that any VPN will do, so long as it works with your favorite streaming app. From a practical perspective though, there’s a lot more to consider. That’s why our team of experts carefully analyzed each VPN in five key areas before deciding to recommend them:

• Speed: We carried out speed tests while connected to each VPN’s servers in the UK.
• Streaming ability: We scored providers on their compatibility with streaming platforms and their UK server availability.
• Security and privacy: We used 16 different criteria for calculating security and privacy scores.
• Ease of use: We used 10 individual metrics for evaluating how easy each VPN service was to use
• Value for money: We used eight unique criteria for gauging whether providers offered good value for money.

You can read a full explainer of these metrics and an analysis of the results in the methodology section below. But first, let’s take a closer look at the providers that impressed us.

Best VPNs for watching UK TV abroad: Our hands-on review

We’ve tested and compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for watching UK TV abroad.

The best VPNs for watching UK TV abroad

From our real-world experience, here’s our list of the best VPNs for watching UK TV abroad:

1. NordVPN

Feb 2025

NordVPN is our top pick for watching UK TV abroad. It operates a large network of over 7,000 worldwide servers, more than 400 of which are located in the UK. This means it’s well-equipped to help you access British content from sites like Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, ITVX (ITV Hub), Sky Go, All 4, TNT Sports, and more.

We tested the speed of its UK servers three times over the course of a day. NordVPN has a reputation for being quick, and the test results didn’t disappoint.

The provider was consistently fast, with an average download speed of 418 Mbps. Its blazing-fast speeds make it particularly suitable for accessing content through geographically distant servers.

NordVPN operates with a strict no-logs policy to help maintain the privacy of its users. For security, you have 256-bit AES encryption, perfect forward secrecy, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. We’re big fans of this provider’s comprehensive approach to privacy; as well as the aforementioned tools, it offers automatic wifi protection, an ad-blocker, tracking-prevention, and a Meshnet feature that facilitates secure file transfers across all of your devices.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. NordVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections which is great for families.

BEST VPN FOR UK TV ABROAD:NordVPN is our top pick. A good budget all-rounder that works well for viewing UK TV while abroad with a good selection of UK servers. Strong security features and handles up to 10 devices simultaneously from one account. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee for a risk-free deal.

See our full NordVPN review.

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2. Surfshark

Surfshark is a great budget-friendly provider that currently operates over 3,000 servers in 100 countries, including the UK. Its speeds are fast enough for flawless live streaming, and it can unblock BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, TNT Sports, and All 4 effortlessly, meaning you’ll never struggle to watch your much-loved UK TV shows.

We tested how reliable Surfshark’s UK servers were by carrying out multiple speed tests over the course of a day.

The provider was very fast in all three tests, with an average overall speed of 388.67 Mbps. This makes it the second-quickest VPN we tested and means it’s more than fast enough for streaming UK TV in the highest resolution available.

This VPN includes a surprising number of security features, given its low monthly price. For example, there’s a kill switch in every version of the app, strong 256-bit encryption, and protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, as well as an automatic ad-blocker and malware scanner. In fact, it’s one of the few VPNs capable of changing your IP address periodically without changing your location!

One of Surfshark’s standout features is that it has no connection limit; simply, it lets you protect every streaming device you own simultaneously. Perhaps most importantly, Surfshark keeps no logs, meaning they don’t track user activity and none of it can be traced back to you.

Surfshark provides apps for MacOS, Linux, Windows, iOS, and Android.

Read our full Surfshark review.

BEST VALUE VPN:Surfshark works out of the box with many UK streaming services, but support is available if needed. It boasts strong security and privacy features, and you can connect as many devices as you like. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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3. IPVanish

IPVanish has more than 2,400 servers and recently expanded its network to cover more than 100 countries including the UK. One thing users will appreciate is how reliable its streaming abilities are; we were able to watch content on sites like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Sky Go, Eurosport, and All 4 with no problems whatsoever.

To find out how fast this service is, we carried out several speed tests while connected to its UK servers. You can see the results below.

The provider achieved speeds above 210 Mbps throughout the day, which is a solid result. Its average speed overall was 222 Mbps, which, coincidentally, is roughly the same as the combined average speed of the other providers that we tested. This suggests that IPVanish is a reliable provider for uninterrupted streaming.

IPVanish keeps no traffic or connection logs, so you don’t need to worry about your information being disclosed. It uses uncrackable 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection to keep your traffic hidden at all times, and can even offers obfuscation in the form of OpenVPN data scrambling. Best of all, users can connect unlimited number of devices at the same time.

Those looking for even better value for money will want to consider the IPVanish advanced plan. IPVanish Advanced comes with a privacy-first cloud browser, which runs your sessions in a remote sandbox, protecting against malware, tracking, and intrusive ads.

This package also includes 1 TB of secure cloud storage and an unlimited VPN, giving users a complete online privacy solution.

While the browser is great for anonymity, it isn’t the best choice for streaming, as it noticeably lowered video quality during our tests. However, for users in restrictive regions, it offers an extra layer of security, preventing ISPs from tracking browsing activity.

And you can easily use it to get an IP address in 10 different countries, further increasing your ability to bypass blocks and access regional content.

At its current price, the Advanced plan is hard to beat. When compared to the standard price of standalone cloud storage (with Google, for example), the cost of IPVanish practically makes the VPN with secure cloud browsing free.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

UNLIMITED DEVICES:IPVanish has numerous UK servers. Unblocks several British streaming services. Great for families that need many simultaneous connections. It works well with Kodi, but look elsewhere if you will be using it from China. 30-day money-back guarantee.

See our full IPVanish review.

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4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a fantastic choice for anyone hoping to catch up on British TV during a trip abroad. Not only does it have a strong presence in the UK (and 105+ other countries), it also works with a ton of popular platforms. For instance, we’ve personally seen great results when using this VPN with services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, and TNT Sports.

To find out how fast ExpressVPN was, we carried out three speed tests while connected to its British servers. The results are presented in the chart below.

The provider exceeded 110 Mbps in all three tests, with an average overall speed of 128.33 Mbps. This was below the average combined speed of the other providers we tested. That said, it’s still fast enough to stream UK TV services without issue.

Another selling point of ExpressVPN is its excellent customer support. You can contact a representative through live chat if you run into problems accessing content. ExpressVPN keeps its users safe with a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, unbreakable encryption, and obfuscation that kicks in on its own as needed. Further, this provider has been independently-audited, proving that it doesn’t keep logs of your activities.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and some wi-fi routers.

EASY STREAMING:ExpressVPN is a fast and reliable VPN. It works with most major UK TV streaming services including Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Great security and privacy features and keeps no traffic logs. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

See our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is based in Romania and has a far larger network than most of its rivals, with 10,000 servers in 100 countries including the UK. It also boasts exceptional streaming abilities plus there’s no guesswork required, given that there are servers specifically for accessing some of the UK’s biggest streaming platforms.

We tested the speed of CyberGhost’s UK servers by running three speed tests at varying times of day. You can see the results below.

This provider’s speeds never fell below 200 Mbps and delivered an average result of 209.67 Mbps. It might not be the quickest provider in this list but it’s certainly competitive and several orders of magnitude faster than you’ll need to stream live HD video.

CyberGhost is another security-conscious provider with strong 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. Its toolkit also includes automatic DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, ad and tracker-blocking, and the ability to bypass some forms of VPN-detection by connecting via a random port. Its logging policy clearly states that it doesn’t maintain traffic logs and never keeps connection logs that can be traced to an individual user. Users are permitted to connect up to seven devices at a time.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

STREAMING-OPTIMIZED SERVERS:CyberGhost is a strong choice. A user-friendly service that unblocks a wide range of UK streaming platforms. Includes a strong set of security features too. Come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

See our full CyberGhost review.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a service with a fantastic reputation. It was launched by the team behind Proton Mail, and it is based in privacy-friendly Switzerland. As you’d expect from a VPN run by a well-known privacy company, the VPN has a solid no-logs policy that has been independently verified. It also maintains more than 109 Secure Core servers that are self-run for additional security.

The apps are jam-packed with useful features, including AES encryption, a kill switch, multi-hop connections, obfuscation, and Tor over VPN. Split tunneling and port forwarding also make this one of the most popular VPNs for torrenting.

To find out how fast its UK servers were, we carried out three speed tests over the course of a day. The results are presented in the chart below.

Speeds were consistent and fast enough for everything from streaming to gaming — provided your base connection speed is up to it. Overall, ProtonVPN’s UK servers were marginally faster than the combined average speed of the other providers’ UK servers. Better still, this service excels at unlocking British services like BBC iPlayer, TNT Sports (formerly BT Sports) and ITVX, as well as US platforms such as Hulu, making it a versatile choice.

While ProtonVPN’s monthly plan is cost-effective, it could offer slightly steeper discounts on long-term subscriptions. However, it is worth the extra few bucks if you want an incredibly reliable all-rounder. Despite the sophistication of its features, the apps remain very user-friendly. However, you can easily contact its excellent live chat support agents if you need to. Plus, ProtonVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try before you buy.

SECURE AND FAST:ProtonVPN is an impressive VPN with more advanced features than most of its competitors. Works with many popular UK streaming services and Freeview TV streams. Fully audited. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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7. PureVPN

PureVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands which puts it well out of reach of invasive jurisdictions like the US and the UK. Its network covers 65+ countries, including the UK and our experts were able to access plenty of popular British streaming services (BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK, and more) while connected. You can also use it to watch major US platforms like Netflix US, Hulu, and Max.

To find out how fast PureVPN’s UK servers were, we carried out three speed tests while connected.

Although PureVPN has been fast in our previous tests, we found its UK servers a little lackluster on this occasion. The provider averaged just 43.67 Mbps, which is far below the combined average speed of the other providers. It’s still fast enough to stream UK TV without issues if you have a fast internet connection. If not, you might want to opt for one of our other providers.

Unlike many other low-cost VPNs, PureVPN doesn’t compromise on security, offering 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak prevention. This makes it reliable for bypassing streaming blocks at work, and for using the internet without being tracked by ISPs or government agencies. There are even a couple of more advanced features like split tunneling functionality and a tool that’ll alert you if your details are leaked on the dark web.

The only real drawback is the slow response times of its live chat support. However, considering it has live chat at all, this is a pretty small quibble. You can see what the fuss is all about by using its 31-day money-back guarantee – giving you plenty of opportunity to test it with your favorite streaming services.

GREAT VALUE:PureVPN makes it both easy and cheap to watch British TV platforms from abroad. It works without issues to stream BBC iPlayer and many other British TV services. The VPN offers strong security and an audited no-logs policy that ensures that your online habits remain private at all times. 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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8. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is a major VPN service that places a large focus on ensuring users can access geo-locked content. It has a smaller network of servers than others on this list, but it boasts some competitive speeds and can deliver otherwise restricted content.

PrivateVPN has multiple servers in the UK. Between these servers, you should be able to gain access to content from sites like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Sky Go, BT Sport, Sky Sports, and others.

We tested how fast these servers were by carrying out three speed tests over the course of a day. You can see how PrivateVPN performed in the table below.

Speeds exceeded 100 Mbps in all three tests, which is a decent result. That said, the provider was half the combined average speed of the other VPNs. If you have a good broadband connection, PrivateVPN is fast enough for streaming high-resolution video without issue. Those with slow connections might like to consider one of our other recommended VPNs.

This provider doesn’t disappoint on the privacy and security front. A strict zero-logs policy is backed by strong security, including 256-bit encryption and perfect forward secrecy. A kill switch and DNS leak protection help keep your information safe further. PrivateVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections with a basic plan.

Apps are available for Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android.

STEALTH MODE:PrivateVPN is a good family choice. Reliably unblocks a good selection of UK streaming content. Allows up to 10 devices on the same account. Effective obfuscation and allows port forwarding. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Our testing methodology for watching UK TV Abroad

There are hundreds of VPNs competing for your attention. A common issue users face is deciding initially, which to choose. Rather than spend hours researching for yourself, our team has created an extensive testing process that examines everything providers offer in five key areas. We’ll explain these and reveal the results of our testing below:

Speed

You don’t need an ultrafast connection for streaming, but it has to be fast enough that you don’t experience lag or buffering. We tested each potential recommendations’ UK servers three times per day and averaged the results to see which offered the most reliable performance.

We took the average speeds across all providers and converted them into an overall score out of 10. You can see the results in the chart below, where it’s clear that NordVPN and Surfshark were the fastest providers.

If you don’t need exceptionally fast speeds, IPVanish and ProtonVPN are solid alternatives. However, if speed is your top priority, you may want to reconsider PureVPN — it generally performs pretty well but was underwhelming in this particular round of testing.

Streaming ability

To begin with, we looked at the number of British server locations each VPN had. These are, after all, required to get the British IP address you’ll need. Where available, we noted the number of servers in each too, though many providers are cagey about publishing this information.

Of course, having servers in the UK is only the first step. When it comes to streaming, we’re really looking at a VPN’s ability to evade detection, and that’s something a lot of providers struggle with. Some might work with All 4, for instance, but really struggle to access more stubborn platforms like BBC iPlayer. That’s why we put each VPN to the test, recording how many services it could access and how reliably it did so.

We assigned each provider two scores out of 10 for how well they performed in the above areas. These were then combined and averaged to get an overall streaming ability score. You can see how they compare in the chart below.

ExpressVPN had the best combination of streaming platform compatibility and UK server availability, though Surfshark was a very close second. NordVPN and IPVanish are noteworthy for their excellent unblocking abilities and reasonably good UK coverage.

Security and privacy

While it’s great having a VPN that works with British TV, it’s even better having one that also keeps you safe online. To find which VPNs offered the best security and privacy features,  we compared them against 16 different criteria.

Providers earn points based on what they offer in each of these 16 areas. We then add these up to get an overall score out of 10. This way, even if you don’t understand the ins and outs of digital security, you’ll still be able to get a reasonable udnerstanding of how secure each VPN is using the chart below:

As you can see from the above chart, NordVPN and Surfshark are the best options for protecting your connection while online. ProtonVPN is an excellent alternative.

Ease of use

Let’s be honest: if your VPN is slow, overly complicated, and generally a nuisance to use, you’re probably not going to rely on it very often. That’s why we prioritise ease of use so strongly. After all, these kind of services are better for novices and also make it as simple as possible to stay safe online — it’s a win win.

So how do we measure ease of use? Well, we assigned scores based on what each provider had in 10 key areas:

We scored each metric and then combined the results to create an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to visually compare providers.

According to the above chart, NordVPN and IPVanish are the easiest services to use overall. They have a straightforward sign-up/ cancellation process and user-friendly interfaces. ExpressVPN is a good alternative option.

Value for money

Getting a good deal when shopping for a VPN requires more than just comparing prices (though this is important). We try to look at the bigger picture by using eight different metrics when calculating each provider’s relative value. You can see these in the table below.

We score each metric and then combine them to produce a total score out of ten, which we can use to easily compare providers.

Surfshark is the best value provider overall, with unlimited device connections and low-cost subscriptions. IPVanish is a solid second-best for the same reasons.

Using a free VPN to watch British TV abroad

You’ll likely encounter some attractive free offerings when researching various VPN providers. While some of these might be able to get you access to some UK content, free services usually come with some downsides.

One of the major problems from a streaming standpoint is that a free VPN service is typically slower and less reliable than a paid one. You’re more likely to endure slow or dropped connections and buffering while trying to watch shows. What’s more, you’ll have access to fewer servers and might have to wait in a queue to connect to the ones you want. To make matters worse, free VPNs are frequently unable to access popular streaming services and almost always have a monthly bandwidth limit. In other words, even if you can stream UK TV at first, you’ll soon lose the ability to unless you pay up.

Aside from lacking from a practical perspective, free VPN providers often fall short from a privacy and security standpoint, too. They usually have to make money somehow, and common business models involve collecting and selling user data and displaying ads through the service. Some providers have even been known to carry malware.

How to watch UK TV through streaming sites

Once you’re set up with a VPN, watching UK TV is fairly straightforward. You’ll first initiate your VPN connection using a UK server. For example, below, we’re connecting to a UK server using NordVPN.

You can then access your desired content as usual. For Netflix, you’ll need a paid subscription no matter where you are. The difference is while you’re connected to a UK server, you’ll see the Netflix UK library instead of the one for the country you’re in.

Other sites offer free content but still require you to sign into an account. For sites like BBC iPlayer and ITVX, you can just set up an account if you don’t have one already. You may be asked to enter a postal code, so make sure it’s a UK one.

If you’ve tried to access a site before without first connecting to a UK server, you might still have issues. If so, you can try clearing the cache and cookies or switching to a different browser.

Note that once you’ve got your VPN subscription, you can use it to access all types of content, not just UK TV. For example, you can connect to a US server to obtain access to US Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and more from your Smart TV or other device.

How to watch UK TV through streaming apps

If you want to watch UK TV channels via a mobile app for Android or iPhone, a VPN can help with that, too. You just need to set up the VPN on whichever mobile device you’re using so that you can mask your IP on that device. All of the plans we’ve talked about above allow for multiple devices to be connected simultaneously, so you’ll have no problem switching at your leisure.

While your IP address will be masked by the VPN, depending on your device settings, its GPS could still give away your real location. If you’re having issues, try disabling the GPS in your settings menu.

How to watch UK TV abroad on a Firestick

Empower yourself to watch your favorite UK TV shows and channels while abroad with the convenience of an Amazon Fire Stick and a reliable VPN service. Begin by acquiring an Amazon Fire Stick, ideally the 4K version for enhanced streaming quality. Once you’ve set it up and connected it to the internet, download and install one of the VPNs from our list above. These VPNs will enable you to connect to a server located in the UK, fooling the apps into believing you’re browsing from within Great Britain.

With the VPN active and connected to a UK server, you can effortlessly download popular UK TV apps like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, and My5 from the Amazon Appstore. Simply open these apps and start streaming your favorite British shows and live sports events. Remember, the VPN needs to remain connected to the UK server for this to work seamlessly, ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted streaming experience.

What about the UK TV license?

Anyone who watches live TV in the UK needs to be covered by a TV license or could face fines of up to £1000. A UK TV license is required if you’re watching or recording live TV. If you’re accessing on-demand or catch-up TV, a license is not usually required.

The exception here is if you’re watching any content on BBC iPlayer, in which case it is stipulated that you should have a license. Before you play a show, a popup will ask you if you have a TV license. Things get a bit tricky when you’re watching from abroad. For example, you won’t have a license unless you live in the UK. However, it appears that the TV license check is pretty much based on the honor system and not well enforced.

The TV licensing website does address travel to some extent. In an answer to an FAQ, it essentially says that if you have a TV license for your address, you’re okay with watching BBC iPlayer on your device while traveling. The exception is if your device is plugged into the electrical mains at another address. This seems like it might be a bit difficult to enforce, but these are the rules.

When it comes to travel outside the UK, the same section simply states that the iPlayer won’t be accessible from abroad, but you can view shows that you’ve downloaded prior to travel (for a limited period of time). So, it’s not really clear if the licensing laws would apply to persons overseas.

While it’s not addressed directly, it seems like you should be okay with watching BBC iPlayer overseas if you have a TV license at your home address and your device is not plugged in. Although to err on the side of caution, you may want to stick to previously downloaded content or shows from other sites. After all, you wouldn’t want to get stuck with a nasty fine.

Related:

• How to get a UK IP address
• Watch EastEnders abroad
• Watch Love Island abroad

Watch British TV Abroad FAQ