Netflix lets you sign in to a UK account from almost any country, then shows you the catalog of the country you’re in. Fly to Spain, and the British series you were halfway through can vanish from your home screen, replaced by whatever Netflix licenses for Spanish viewers.
Americans run into the same problem from the other side: many shows that stream in Britain never reach the US catalog. Netflix determines which catalog to show from your IP address, which tells every website roughly where you’re connecting from.
Swap it for a UK IP address, and the British catalog appears on the account you already pay for. That’s a VPN’s job, though Netflix blocks most of them, and only a few still get the UK library to load. Here’s how to get the British catalog back on your screen(s).
Unblock UK Netflix Abroad in 4 Steps
- Subscribe to NordVPN, or another VPN with UK servers that still works with Netflix.
- Install the app on your phone, computer, or TV, and sign in.
- Connect to a UK server to get a British IP address.
- Sign in to Netflix on an ad-free plan, and the UK catalog replaces your local one.
What Your UK Netflix Account Shows Abroad
A UK account signs in normally on holiday in Greece, after a move to Spain, or on a work trip to the US. However, Netflix licenses most shows country by country, so the catalog follows your location. Abroad, you get the local library, and some downloads and Continue Watching titles may not be available until you’re back in the UK.
The same rule works in the other direction. Netflix reads your location from your IP address, so a viewer in New York who connects through a server in London sees the British catalog, including UK series and films that Netflix doesn’t license for American viewers.
That’s how a VPN works: it sends your traffic through one of its servers and replaces your IP address with one from that server’s country.
Proxies and other tools that change your IP address work the same way, and Netflix blocks those too. When it detects one, Netflix shows an error or limits the home screen to titles it licenses worldwide, such as its own series.
How to Watch Netflix UK Outside the UK: Full Tutorial
The setup takes a few minutes, and using a VPN to unblock Netflix is simpler than it sounds, even on a TV.
Subscribe to a VPN With UK Servers
Pick a VPN with servers in the UK that still unblocks the British catalog. We’d go with NordVPN, which has servers in four British cities and works with the UK library on phones, computers, and TVs.
It also lets you change your Netflix region to the US, Canada, Japan, and other libraries from the same app. The 30-day money-back guarantee gives you time to check it with your own Netflix account before committing.
Unblock Netflix UK with NordVPN
Install the App and Connect to the UK
Download the VPN app for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS. On a TV, the VPNs we recommend install directly on Android TV, Apple TV, and the Fire TV Stick.
Roku is the exception. It doesn’t support VPN apps, so a Roku requires a VPN on your router or a connection shared from a computer.
Open the app, sign in, and type “United Kingdom” in the search bar or scroll to it in the server list. Click Connect, and NordVPN gives you a UK IP address within a few seconds:
Sign In to Netflix and Check the Library
With the VPN connected, open the Netflix website or app and sign in. The home screen switches to the UK catalog, with British rows and titles that weren’t there before.
Search for the show you want and start watching, as you would at home.
UK Netflix VPNs Compared
| VPN | UK servers | Speed loss on a UK server | Other Netflix libraries unblocked | UK TV apps unblocked | Smart DNS for TVs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 440+ in London, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh | 3.0% (NordLynx) | US, Canada, Japan | BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 | Yes |
| Proton VPN | 900+ | 6.0% (WireGuard) | US, Canada, Japan | BBC iPlayer, Channel 4 | No |
| ExpressVPN | 5 locations in London and the Midlands | 2.4% (Lightway) | US, Canada, Japan | BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 | Yes (MediaStreamer) |
Best VPNs to Watch UK Netflix in the US and Abroad
NordVPN, Proton VPN, and ExpressVPN unblock Netflix UK on their British servers. Where they differ is in what else they offer viewers abroad, from UK TV apps to protection on hotel Wi-Fi.
1. NordVPN: Best for Netflix UK and British TV on One Subscription
Pros
- UK servers in England and Scotland
- Browser extension with location spoofing
- Smart DNS for TVs without VPN apps
- Independently audited no-log policy
- Apps for Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV
Con
- Settings take some learning for beginners
NordVPN spreads its British servers across London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, so when Netflix blocks one IP address, another UK server is a click away. Besides the UK catalog, it unblocked BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4 in our tests.
That perfectly suits British viewers abroad who want live programming on BBC iPlayer on the same connection. On its UK servers, it lost about 3% of our speed, a difference you won’t see on screen, even in 4K. For a TV in a holiday rental, its Smart DNS changes the location the TV reports to Netflix without a VPN app.
That helps on Samsung and LG sets that don’t support one. A Fire TV Stick or Apple TV can use the full app instead. Pricing starts under $3.50 a month for the Basic plan on a two-year term, which covers ten devices.
2. Proton VPN: Best for Travelers on Restricted Wi-Fi
Pros
- Large UK server network
- Up to 10 devices at once
- Stealth protocol for networks that block VPNs
- Swiss privacy laws
- Full refund within 30 days
Cons
- No Smart DNS for TVs and consoles
- Didn’t work with ITVX
Proton VPN has more than 900 servers in the UK, about twice NordVPN’s British count, and it unblocked BBC iPlayer and Channel 4 alongside Netflix in our tests. Its UK servers lost about 6% of our speed, a bigger loss than NordVPN or ExpressVPN, though the remaining speed is still far beyond what a typical stream requires.
Its strength abroad is getting online where VPNs are blocked. The Stealth protocol disguises VPN traffic as ordinary web traffic, so it connects on hotel, airport, and office networks that cut off standard VPN connections, and in countries that restrict them.
Proton is based in Switzerland, its no-log policy has been independently audited, and the VPN Plus plan costs about $3 a month on a two-year term, with a full refund available within 30 days.
3. ExpressVPN: Best for Plug-and-Play Streaming
Pros
- UK servers in London and the Midlands
- Simple apps on every device
- Connects in a second or two
- Post-quantum encryption
- MediaStreamer for consoles and older TVs
Cons
- Few customization options
- Higher price on renewal
ExpressVPN is the simplest of the three to set up: install it, pick UK – London or one of its four other British locations, and Netflix UK appears. On its UK servers, it recorded a speed loss of just over 2%, the smallest of the three. It unblocked ITVX, BBC iPlayer, and Channel 4 in our tests too.
The apps look and work the same on Windows, Mac, phones, Apple TV, and Fire TV, and they connected in a second or two every time. For a game console or an older smart TV, MediaStreamer, its Smart DNS service, sets the TV’s location without an app.
That makes it a strong VPN for trips abroad when you’d rather not change settings, and the Basic plan costs about $3 a month on a two-year term.
If Netflix Detects Your VPN
Netflix blocks VPN servers one IP address at a time, so a block on one server rarely means the whole VPN stops working. When the UK catalog doesn’t appear, or Netflix shows only its own series, one of these fixes usually solves it:
- Switch to another UK server. A different server in London or Manchester gives you a new IP address that Netflix may not have flagged yet.
- Clear cookies and cache. Netflix can remember your real location from an earlier session, so clear the browser’s data, or the app’s cache on Android, and sign in again.
- Check your Netflix plan. Netflix doesn’t support VPNs on its ad-supported plan or for live events, so the UK catalog requires the Standard or Premium plan.
- Try the browser extension. In our tests, the NordVPN and ExpressVPN browser extensions, with location spoofing enabled, unblocked services their desktop apps couldn’t. Location spoofing makes the browser report the server’s location instead of yours.
Can You Use a Free VPN to Watch UK Netflix?
Not reliably. Netflix detects most free VPNs, and Proton VPN’s free plan didn’t unblock Netflix in our tests, despite our high rating for its paid version.
Windscribe’s free plan is the exception. It includes a UK server, unblocked BBC iPlayer on it, and unblocked the American, Canadian, and Japanese Netflix catalogs in our tests.
However, its 10 GB monthly allowance lasts about five hours in HD, enough for a film or two. For a full series, a cheap VPN costs around $2 a month and removes the data limit.
Conclusion
Viewers abroad who only watch Netflix’s own series can skip the VPN. Those titles stream in almost every country. For everything else in the British catalog, the method is short: connect to a UK server, sign in on an ad-free plan, and the UK library replaces the local one, whether you’re in Spain or the US.
NordVPN is the one we’d install for the task first. Servers in four British cities make it easy to switch when one gets blocked, and the same subscription unblocks BBC iPlayer and ITVX for expats who miss more than Netflix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my UK Netflix account abroad?
Yes. A UK Netflix account works in most countries, but it shows the local catalog, so British titles licensed only in the UK disappear until the connection uses a UK IP address.
Does UK Netflix work in Spain?
Yes, the account signs in normally in Spain, but it shows the Spanish catalog. Some downloads and Continue Watching titles may also be unavailable until it connects through the UK.
Is it legal to watch UK Netflix with a VPN?
Yes, using a VPN is legal in the UK, the US, and most of Europe. Switching catalogs goes against Netflix’s terms of use, and Netflix responds by blocking the VPN server.
Why does Netflix show only Netflix originals with a VPN?
Netflix has detected the VPN, so it shows only titles it licenses worldwide, such as its own series. Switching to another UK server or clearing the app’s data usually restores the catalog.
Can I watch UK Netflix on a smart TV abroad?
Yes. Android TV, Apple TV, and Fire TV devices support VPN apps directly. Samsung and LG sets require Smart DNS from NordVPN or ExpressVPN, or a VPN on the router.