How to Watch UK TV Abroad Fast From Anywhere in 2024

After exhaustive research and rigorous testing, we present a fail-safe guide to unlocking the world of iconic British television. We show you how to watch UK TV abroad with a VPN, no matter where you are. If you’re in France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Australia, the USA, or any corner of the globe, we’ve got you covered. Do you miss those quintessential British dramas and comedies? Do you long for live TV streams or on-demand content from the UK?

We understand the frustration of missing out on your favorite shows, especially when you’re abroad. Many have tread the path before you, only to find that much of the beloved UK content remains elusive due to geo-restrictions. These geo-locks, often due to intricate licensing agreements, become barriers when non-British IP addresses try to access the content.

But here’s our promise: With this comprehensive tutorial, you will be able to navigate these digital restrictions effortlessly using a VPN to watch UK TV abroad.

For example, trying to access BBC iPlayer from an overseas location non-UK server might deliver the following message:

“BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”

Thankfully, there is a way around this that enables you to watch content from British television sites like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub (formerly ITV Player), All4 (previously 4OD), Netflix UK, and more freely. The solution is a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which encrypts all of your traffic and tunnels it through an intermediary server in a location of your choice. A VPN service masks your real IP address and replaces it with one from your chosen country. So by connecting to a UK server, you can watch British TV channels from anywhere in the world, like Spain, as if you’re in the UK.

What’s more, with a VPN, you get additional perks like increased levels of security and privacy and access to other geo-restricted sites. Not all VPN providers offer the same service, so choosing the right one is essential.

If you want to skip ahead and find out which VPN to use to watch UK TV from abroad without reading the whole article, below is a summary of our top picks.

Best VPN for UK TV abroad:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN top choice 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 value VPN and an affordable choice. It provides instant access to UK TV platforms with ease in a couple of clicks. Surfshark keeps no logs and allows unlimited simultaneous devices.
3. IPVanish: Works with plenty of UK streaming platforms and has lots of UK servers. Good privacy features, cheap subscriptions, and unlimited device connections.
4. ExpressVPN: Strong unblocking abilities make streaming effortless. Always-on obfuscation and RAM-only servers. Easy-to-use apps with no collection logs.
5. CyberGhost: A huge network of servers. Unblocks geo-blocked content from the UK, including popular British streaming platforms. Great privacy and security and user-friendly apps.
6. ProtonVPN: Impressive VPN with plenty of advanced features, including port-forwarding. Works with popular UK streaming services and Freeview TV.
7. PureVPN: An easy and great value way to watch British TV abroad. Strong security, an audited no-logs policy, powerful obfuscation, and allows 10 simultaneous connections.
8. PrivateVPN: Works well with UK television channels, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services. Strong 256-bit AES encryption, effective obfuscation, and low-cost subscriptions. 
   

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? Do not worry; 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 and select a VPN server in the UK.
4. Once the connection has been established, open the video you want to stream. It should now be unblocked as if you were in the UK.
5. Note that some sites might require you to clear your browser cookies and/or web cache. If the video is still blocked, do so and refresh the page.

We’ve covered access to specific UK streaming sites — BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Channel 4, Sky Go, and BT Sport — in separate articles. If you’re looking for the best VPNs to use while in the UK, we have an article for that, too.

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

When choosing which VPNs to include in this article, we carried out a series of tests covering five different aspects:

• 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

Nov 2024

NordVPN is our top pick for watching UK TV abroad. It operates a large network of over 6,000 worldwide servers, more than 400 of which are located in the UK. This means it’s well-equipped to help you access the British content library from sites like Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Sky Go, All 4, and more.

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

The provider was consistently fast, with an average download speed of 417 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. A bonus with this provider is automatic wifi protection, which means you never have to worry about connecting to an unsecured network while traveling. A NordVPN plan allows up to 10 simultaneous connections which is great for families or if you tend to switch devices regularly.

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

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, and All 4 effortlessly, meaning you’ll never struggle to watch your much-loved UK TV shows.

We tested how fast 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 406.67 Mbps. This makes it more than fast enough for streaming UK TV in the highest resolution available.

One of Surfshark’s standout features is that it has no connection limit; simply, it lets you protect every streaming device you own simultaneously.

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.

Perhaps most important, 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 2,000 servers in dozens of countries and is very popular with Kodi users. More recently, we have noticed a vast improvement in the ability to unblock streaming services. With 197 UK servers, it provides access to content from BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Sky Go, Eurosport, and All 4 amongst others.

To find out how fast it was, 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 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. Security is in the form of 256-bit AES encryption along with perfect forward secrecy. Apps come with a built-in kill switch and DNS leak protection. Better still, you can connect an unlimited number of devices with your subscription at the same time.

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 known for its ability to unblock geo-locked content, including popular streaming sites. It has a network of over 3,000 servers in more than 105 countries, including a selection of UK locations.

It works with Netflix libraries from various countries, including your favorite content in the UK. You’ll also be able to access geo-blocked content from other popular sites like ITV Hub, Sky Go, and BT Sport.

To find out how fast ExpressVPN’s UK servers were, we carried out three speed tests while connected. 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 uses 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy.

A kill switch means you don’t have to worry if the VPN connection is lost, and there’s protection against DNS leaks. ExpressVPN’s clear logging policy tells us that user activity is never monitored and no IP addresses are logged.

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 continues to expand its huge network of more than 10,000 servers. CyberGhost puts a lot of effort into ensuring users can access geo-locked content, and with nearly 700 servers in the UK, fans of British TV won’t miss out.

You can access UK-based services like ITV Hub, All 4, Channel 5 (My5), and Eurosport Player by selecting the particular servers that are optimized for them in the VPN client.

We tested the speed of CyberGhost’s UK servers by carrying out three tests while connected. You can see the results below.

The provider achieved speeds above 210 Mbps in all three tests, with an average overall speed of 209.67 Mbps. This was a little slower than the combined average speed of the other providers, but not by much. For the majority of users, CyberGhost is more than fast enough for smooth streaming.

CyberGhost is another secure provider with strong 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. 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. Further privacy is provided by a kill switch and DNS leak protection. CyberGhost plans allow for up to seven simultaneous connections.

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

STREAMING-OPTIMIZED SERVERS:CyberGhost has a simple set up. A user-friendly service that unblocks a wide range of geo-blocked UK streaming TV and sports content. Big choice of UK servers that are fast and reliable. Come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

See our full CyberGhost review.

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6. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a VPN 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.

The VPN excels in streaming British services like BBC iPlayer and ITVX, as well as US platforms such as Hulu, making it a versatile choice.

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.

While ProtonVPN’s monthly plan is cost-effective, the longer plans aren’t as competitive. However, it is worth the extra few bucks if you want an incredibly reliable all-rounder.

Despite the sophistication of its features, the apps are user-friendly and manageable to learn. However, you can easily contact its excellent live chat support agents if you need to. Plus, ProtonVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the service yourself.

SECURE AND FAST:ProtonVPN is an impressive VPN with more advanced features than most market-leading VPNs. 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. Despite starting at a mere $1.96 per month, the VPN is both secure and reliable. It has apps for all platforms that offer strong encryption and a no-logging policy.

The service covers more than 65 countries, including the UK, to watch BBC iPlayer, Netflix UK, ITVX, Channel 4, and other popular British streaming services. You can also use it to watch major US platforms like Netflix US, Hulu, and HBO 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 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.

The only real drawback is the slow response times of its live chat support. However, considering it has live chat, 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

With so many VPNs circulating on the market, choosing one to watch British TV abroad can be tricky. We find those that are best suited to safely streaming UK TV by carrying out an exhaustive testing process that covers several key areas:

Speed

There’s nothing more frustrating than endless buffering while streaming. To help you avoid this, we tested VPN providers’ speeds to ensure they were up to the task.

Specifically, we tested their UK servers: once in the morning, once at noon, and once in the afternoon. We used the Ookla speed-testing app installed on a virtual machine.

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. Both are fast enough for streaming in 4K without issue.

Streaming ability

Not all VPNs have servers in the UK that work to stream iPlayer, ITV Hub, Channel 4, BT Sport, Sky TV, Now TV, etc. In fact, British streaming platforms have managed to block most VPNs nowadays. With this in mind, we tested — and scored — each provider on how well it was able to access UK streaming platforms.

We also scored providers on their number of UK server locations. This is used in place of actual server numbers, which some providers are loathe to divulge.

We combined these two scores to give each provider 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.

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.

We assign a score to each of the criteria to create an overall score out of ten. This makes it easier to compare providers.

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

To make it easier to access UK TV from abroad, we looked for providers that offered the most streamlined service. We measured this using 10 individual metrics.

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.

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 ITV Hub, 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 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