The United Kingdom has some of the most entertaining TV content in the world. With a TV license, you can stream loads of captivating British content, from gripping dramas to quirky comedies and fascinating documentaries. While you’re over there, that is. It gets significantly trickier if you want to watch UK TV abroad.
The issue? Geo-restrictions. These digital barriers lock you out of content libraries based on your location. So, that BBC period drama you loved back home is suddenly unavailable because you took a short vacation or relocated to another country.
Thankfully, there are a few ways around this — and the most reliable involves using a virtual private network (VPN). In the following lines, we’ll explain how to watch British TV outside the UK and present the best VPN services.
Why Are UK TV Channels Unavailable Abroad?
Many channels like BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 are free-to-air, but you need a subscription for several others. As long as you have a TV license and are within the United Kingdom, you can watch live programs (unrestricted) on your television, computer, or smartphone.
However, have you ever craved a dose of British drama while on vacation?
Chances are that you were met with a frustrating error message when trying to access your favorite British TV channel outside the UK:
Geo-restrictions are behind this. They are in place to enforce licensing agreements between broadcasters and content creators (production companies, studios, etc.). So, a channel may only have the rights to broadcast a movie or show in the UK due to contractual obligations.
Enter the VPN. Essentially, VPN services encrypt your internet traffic and route it through a secure tunnel to a remote server in another location. That’s a fancy way of saying the technology allows you to virtually teleport yourself to that location.
When you connect to a VPN server in the United Kingdom, it masks your IP address and disguises your traffic, tricking websites and online services (like that UK TV channel that previously blocked you) into thinking you’re actually there.
The fact is, not all VPNs are convincing enough when it comes to providing access to British TV channels outside the UK. That’s why we’re going to give you our recommendations below.
Watch UK TV Abroad in 3 Simple Steps – Tutorial
If you’re going with the VPN approach, you need a VPN with servers in the United Kingdom. It’s a really straightforward process. Here’s what to do:
- Choose a VPN Service: Select a reliable VPN service with UK servers. Your chosen provider must also offer fast connection speeds for smooth streaming and be capable of bypassing the geo-restrictions set by the television channels. Our top choice is NordVPN, as it handles this exceptionally.
- Subscribe and Install: Visit the VPN’s official website and choose a subscription plan that works for you. Provide the required payment information and complete the transaction. You now have an account. Download and install the VPN app on your device.
- Connect to a UK Server: Launch your newly installed VPN app and log in with your account credentials. Navigate to the server menu and connect to a server located in the United Kingdom.
With that done, everything is ready for you to be able to watch British TV programs abroad (live or on demand). Clear the cookies on your browser and return to the television website or app. A capable VPN service will grant you access to your favorite programs instantly.
The 5 Best VPNs to Watch British TV Channels Abroad
Geo-restrictions are like fences; some are tougher than others to climb over. That’s why you need a VPN provider with a proven track record when it comes to streaming geo-restricted content. It must also offer fast speeds and protect your data while you stream.
To arrive at this list, we’ve extensively tested dozens of VPN services based on those (and other) metrics. Here are the top options you should be considering.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is our top choice for watching UK television channels abroad. It offers a massive network with 7,400+ servers in 118 countries worldwide. More than 440 are spread across the UK in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, and Manchester.
The VPN easily bypasses the geo-blocks on platforms like BBC iPlayer, My5, Sky Go, and ITVX, so you can stream your favorite UK TV channels hassle-free outside the UK.
What’s more, 10 Gbps servers guarantee blazing-fast connection speeds for stable streaming. That can come in handy if, like most people, you prefer watching high-resolution videos. The provider’s NordLynx protocol, built around WireGuard and thus performance-friendly, comes as default.
AES 256-bit encryption secures your online presence and information while you browse or stream TV programs. Together with tools like DNS leak protection and a kill switch, it prevents your ISP from snooping and hackers from intercepting or reading your data.
NordVPN operates a strict no-logs policy, so your online sessions are confidential.
Because it works with a wide range of platforms, you can watch UK TV abroad on your computer, smartphone, or streaming device. A NordVPN subscription covers up to 10 devices simultaneously.
There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee attached to your plan that allows you to test the VPN risk-free.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is another smart choice for enjoying British TV from abroad. It has around 3,000 servers in 105 countries.
The VPN excels at circumventing geo-blocks, which means you’ll never struggle to access British content libraries on platforms like BBC iPlayer, and ITVX. It also works with streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu.
You can stream to your heart’s content as the provider has no data caps or bandwidth limits. Plus, impressive speeds ensure you’re not tormented by constant buffering or low-resolution video quality.
ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology keeps each of the provider’s servers constantly updated. It uses volatile memory, wiping clean all servers with each reboot and guaranteeing no logs of your online activities are saved.
In addition, ExpressVPN scrambles your internet traffic with military-grade encryption and implements a kill switch. It prevents IP and DNS leaks that could potentially expose your sensitive information and compromise your online privacy.
ExpressVPN is compatible with computers, smartphones, routers, set-up boxes, smart TVs, and gaming consoles — essentially most devices with built-in capabilities for streaming UK TV channels. If you want, you can connect to a server on up to eight devices at the same time.
All ExpressVPN plasn have a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you ample time to confirm it works as advertised.
3. Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has a collection of over 1,200 servers in three UK cities: London, Manchester, and Southampton. That’s plenty to choose from when getting a British IP address and watching British TV channels outside the UK, but they are only a small chunk of its vast network in 91 countries.
The provider’s location-masking techniques trick television platforms like Channel 4, ITV, and the BBC into granting you access, even if you’re in a foreign location. You can also use it to watch Sky Sports in the USA. While it may not work for all international streaming services, it will unblock both UK and US Netflix libraries.
PIA has 10 Gbps servers optimized for fast speeds. The VPN’s apps have the latency of each region measured and intuitively labeled. As a result, you can avoid slower servers and connect to those with lower ping instead.
A headquarters in the United States shouldn’t deter you, even though that’s a 5 Eyes jurisdiction. Private Internet Access has a strict no-logs policy, one it has proven through independent audits and court.
What’s more, PIA has bank-level AES 256-bit encryption to shield your data from prying eyes — but comes with AES 128-bit out of the box for better performance. It also includes a kill switch to prevent leaks when your VPN connection drops.
PIA has stepped up its value game by removing the cap on its already generous 10-device connection limit, which means one account covers all your devices simultaneously. Finally, It has a 30-day refund policy.
4. Proton VPN
Proton VPN’s network size is only smaller than PIA’s and offers upwards of 12,100 servers in 117 countries. Its UK coverage consists of 550+ servers across London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Cardiff.
The provider also earns a spot in our fastest VPNs list thanks to its 10 Gbps servers optimized for fast connections. That impressive UK collection means that even if you run into slow servers, you can switch to a faster one in seconds.
Proton VPN offers streaming-optimized servers for watching videos on various platforms. They include VPN servers for BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, ITV, Netflix UK, and Amazon Prime Video.
For instance, if you’re interested in catching a BBC drama while on a trip abroad, you can simply connect to the appropriate server for super-fast and reliable streaming.
Want to take advantage of free Wi-Fi in your hotel room or a cafe? Go ahead. The VPN’s Wi-Fi protection feature automatically masks your traffic so hackers can’t steal your data. Proton VPN implements industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption and comes with a Secure Core servers to double it if needed.
It has native apps for the major operating systems, as well as Android TV and Amazon Fire TV Stick. In addition, the VPN supports up to 10 simultaneous device connections. A 30-day money-back guarantee applies to all Proton VPN’s plans, plus, you have a popular forever-free plan with unlimited bandwidth.
5. Surfshark
Surfshark’s extraordinary streaming prowess have earned it a place on this list. If you want to watch UK TV live from anywhere, you’ll be impressed by its servers in 100+ countries. Surfshark also works with Netflix UK and unblocks pretty much any foreign TV channel.
The great thing about it, it’s fast. Using WireGuard and 10 Gbps servers, Surfshark does its best to prevent buffering and eternal loading times. On top of that, the VPN uses Smart DNS, which supports streaming on every non-VPN-friendly device, as explained in this Smart DNS beginner guide.
Surfshark has applications for all devices, and like PIA, supports unlimited simultaneous connections. Add to this optional extras, like an antivirus, and you get all-around threat protection you can never replace. Surfshark doesn’t skimp on security, let alone privacy.
There’s MultiHop to double your encryption. If you want, you can also use its IP Rotation to periodically alter your IP and stay anonymous. Surfshark also has a no-log policy with multiple third-party audits, paired with top-of-the-line RAM-based servers we all love.
We left its best “feature” for last — affordability! Surfshark is just about two quids a month and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans. Imagine having to spend this “much” and still be able to watch all UK TV channels outside the UK. What a privilege!
Can You Watch UK TV Channels Abroad With a Free VPN?
We don’t recommend it. While some free VPNs actually advertise their ability to unblock UK television channels from anywhere, several drawbacks make [most of] them unreliable and potentially risky options.
For one, most free providers have small networks with a couple of UK-based servers, if they offer any at all.
As you can imagine, that results in congestion in peak periods. Combine that with slow servers and suboptimal protocols, and there’s bound to be significant buffering and lags. Besides, data caps and throttling are common with free VPNs, and those are not streaming-friendly.
Plus, some free VPNs employ weak encryption — and even log your data to inject ads because they must make money somehow. These are counter to the essence of using a VPN in the first place.
Conclusion
Traveling outside the UK usually means having to suspend enjoying some of your favorite programs until you’re back home. With a VPN, that doesn’t have to be the case. You only have to follow a few steps, which we have outlined in this article, and you can watch UK TV abroad without any restrictions.
We’ve discussed a few excellent providers, but the most effective service is NordVPN because of its lightning-fast speeds, exceptional unblocking, and highly-rated VPN features. Take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee to purchase a subscription risk-free.
Watch British TV channels with NordVPN
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not over yet. Let us answer some of your frequently asked questions that we haven’t covered so far.
⚖️ Is watching UK TV abroad legal?
Generally speaking, using a VPN is legal in most cases and this is such a case. However, unblocking foreign TV channels often goes against terms and conditions. I mean, they’re region-locked for a reason! Will you be arrested? No. Will you be fined? No.
But, it’s good to know that you’re breaching the channel’s “rules” if you do this. Now, whether or not you care about that is your thing. We’re here just to point out the facts.
🌐 Can I use a proxy to watch British TV overseas?
No. Proxies aren’t optimized for unblocking content and streaming, in general. Options like proxies and Tor aren’t great. Still, some people use paid proxies to unblock sites, but they’re usually quite expensive and not as simple to set up and use as VPNs.
📺 Can I watch UK TV channels without a TV license?
Yes, in most cases, you can. BBC will, for example, ask for a TV license, but if you select the “I don’t have it” option, you’re still allowed to watch its content. Bear in mind that you’ll have to register an account in most cases, but if you’re a Brit, you likely have one ready. If not, it takes a minute to make one.