Best UK VPNs for expats to stream British TV abroad

UK television is some of the best in the world, but you won't be able to access it outside the country. You will need a UK VPN to keep up with your favorite shows.

Life as an expat has many benefits, but when homesickness kicks in – as sometimes it must – there’s nothing better than a dose of British TV to reconnect you to the UK. The problem is that the bastion of Britishness – the BBC – doesn’t make iPlayer content available abroad. The solution? Use a VPN. The best VPNs allow UK expats to stream British TV like iPlayer – as well as ITVX Hub and All 4 – abroad whenever they want.

We’ll get into more detail later but, in the meantime, here’s a quick summary of the most useful options for streaming British TV abroad.

The best UK VPNs for expats: 

1. NordVPN: Our top choice for streaming British TV from abroad. Global network of speedy RAM-only servers. Works seamlessly with UK streaming providers – even when using a smart TV. Plans come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN option for UK expats. Offers unlimited device connections, easy access to British streaming content, and RAM-only servers in four UK cities. An obfuscation tool helps bypass internet blocks – even those in China.
3. ExpressVPN: Well-respected provider with a notably secure network of RAM-only British servers. Easy-to-use apps – including one for routers – work well with accessing UK streaming platforms. Privacy policy and software have both been audited. 
4. Proton VPN: Privacy-focused provider that’s also a great choice for streaming British TV. Includes access to MultiHop servers, a stealth mode, and an ad and malware blocker. All apps are open-source and independently audited. 
5. Atlas VPN: Combines fast connection speeds with robust security. Streaming-optimized servers make it easy to watch British TV abroad. Offers unlimited device connections and a SafeSwap feature that rotates IP addresses in session.
6. CyberGhost: Impressively fast connection speeds and equally impressive server network. Works great with UK streaming providers and comes with an auto-connect feature for unsecured WiFi networks. Has an independently audited no-logs policy.
7. PrivateVPN: Competitively priced service with excellent access to British online TV. Offers fast connection speeds, intuitive apps, and a dedicated customer support team that can provide remote control assistance when needed. 

Summary Table

There are literally hundreds of VPNs trying to snag your custom, many of which make false assertions – particularly when it comes to streaming. Rather than relying on what their landing pages tell us, we rigorously test each provider against a list of criteria. These are outlined below and expanded upon later in the article.

• Access to streaming platforms
• Global server network, with plenty in the UK
• Fast connection speeds
• Privacy and security
• Ease of use
• Value for money

To make one of the top three positions in our recommended provider list, VPNs must also fulfill the following requirements:

• Diskless servers 
• Independently audited no-logs policy
• Independently audited security infrastructure  

You can read more about our testing methodology later in this article. 

Best UK VPNs for expats to stream British TV abroad

The following information gives you a detailed overview of our seven best VPNs for watching UK TV abroad.

NordVPN has built its reputation on technical innovation and a strong commitment to privacy. It has a broad appeal, thanks to being able to bypass VPN blocks while traveling abroad imposed by repressive governments, as well as those imposed by a range of streaming platforms – including providers of UK TV.

Features include one-click access to the Tor network; the ability to route traffic through multiple servers for additional security; and an auto-connect feature that ensures you don’t unwittingly connect to an unsecured WiFi network without protection. 

Unlike many providers, NordVPN is able to effectively obfuscate users’ internet traffic so that, even if they’re in a country like China, they’ll still be able to watch content from the likes of ITVX, Channel 4, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer. 

Easy-to-use apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. NordVPN can also be installed on compatible routers. This will provide protection to your entire home network, but only count as one of your allotted six device connections. 

While NordVPN is undoubtedly a great service, it’s not perfect. In 2018, hackers managed to steal configuration files and the private keys associated with certificates used to secure NordVPN web servers. Having attributed the attack to a third-party data center, NordVPN quickly instigated a security audit and third-party penetration testing. It also switched to a RAM-only server network and announced a bug bounty program.

NordVPN adheres to a no-logs policy that’s been audited multiple times. It protects internet traffic using 256-bit AES channel encryption, in conjunction with SHA384 authentication and a 3072-bit DHE-RSA key exchange. Plus, NordVPN's Meshnet private tunnel feature for Windows, macOS, and Linux is now free for everyone.

BEST VPN FOR STREAMING BRITISH TV: NordVPN is our top recommendation. It has 440+ RAM-only servers in the UK, reliably fast connections, and easy access to British TV from abroad. You can try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of NordVPN.

Surfshark enables VPN connections in an impressive 100+ countries and has several thousand RAM-only servers in its network overall. Users are allowed to connect as many devices as they like and the provider works well with all the most popular platforms for streaming British TV.

The service is easy to use and there’s plenty of information available if you get stuck. Given its price, Surfshark has an impressive feature set. This includes automatic WiFi protection, which gives users the option to specify a connection to a particular server. British expats can set this to the UK if they need ongoing access to a service like online banking.

Surfshark also has a CleanWeb tool that stops ads, trackers, and malware from interrupting browsing; as well as a Rotating IP service. This latter feature regularly changes your IP address during a session as an additional privacy measure. Android users have access to GPS spoofing, which enables them to spoof their device’s physical location. 

Lightweight and unobtrusive apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. There are also audited browser extensions available for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. 

Users’ data is protected using AES-256 encryption, with the additional option to use MultiHop servers for additional layers of encryption. Privacy is maintained with an audited no-logs policy. Expats living in countries like China can use the NoBorders feature to obfuscate traffic and ensure they get online. 

In 2022, Surfshark became part of Nord Security, which is the parent company of NordVPN. This helps establish Nord Security as one of the big players in a VPN market dominated by just a few companies.  

GREAT VALUE: Surfshark works great with the major UK TV streaming platforms and enables connections in more countries than nearly all other providers. Subscriptions come with unlimited device connections and a risk-free, 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN’s ability to access geo-restricted streaming services has established it as the go-to provider for anyone seeking to catch up on British TV while living abroad. This includes BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, and much more. 

Features include a Threat Manager, which prevents access to malware-harboring websites; a kill switch, which prevents data from being exposed if the VPN connection drops out; and a MediaStreamer tool that helps VPN-incompatible devices like smart TVs and games consoles get connected.

ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy that’s been independently audited and tested through a court case. Its RAM-only server network is unable to store – and thus give up – customer information. The entire software stack is reinstalled at every reboot, ensuring all servers are equally up-to-date. This, together with ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway connection protocol, helps it to provide enviable connection speeds. 

While connected, users’ internet traffic is secured using 256-bit AES encryption, together with 4096-bit DHE-RSA keys and SHA512 hash authentication. Apps are remarkably leak-free and consistent across platforms. They’re available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, Linux, and – unusually – routers.  

In 2021, ExpressVPN was bought by British-Israeli software provider, Kape Technologies. The acquisition caused a small amount of controversy as its new owners had previously specialized in creating software that injected ad-ware into users’ browsers. 

For its part, ExpressVPN says it still operates completely autonomously. We have no reason to doubt this. Indeed, since being bought, ExpressVPN has had both its security infrastructure and apps independently audited, as well as introducing a one-time $100,000 bug bounty.

SECURE SERVERS: ExpressVPN provides eminently safe and secure connections to servers in the UK and 93+ other countries. It works flawlessly with all streaming platforms offering British TV and plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

Proton VPN is a Swiss provider that is vocal in its commitment to privacy and security. It’s also a great choice for more mundane tasks, like accessing a range of streaming content. Expats can use it to reliably access BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4. 

Features include a VPN Accelerator tool that improves the speeds of long-distance connections. This is achieved by optimizing several processes involved in routing traffic. Users can also connect to two VPN servers for extra privacy, or to the Tor network with a single click.

The service comes with a built-in ad and malware blocker; a kill switch; split tunneling; and a Stealth mode that masks the fact that you’re using a VPN.

In addition to the main Proton VPN server network, the provider has 100+ Secure Core servers. These route network traffic through servers maintained and owned by Proton VPN in privacy-friendly countries like Switzerland and Iceland.

ProtonVPN uses its own private DNS servers as standard, and protects internet traffic with 256-bit AES encryption on the OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. 

Leak-free apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Linux. Subscribers are able to use them with up to 10 devices simultaneously. 

Proton VPN is owned by Proton Technologies AG, which provides software such as the popular ProtonMail. Although some might remember the 2021 court case, where ProtonMail was compelled to begin logging IP address and browser fingerprint information for one of its customers, Proton VPN insists that its strict no-logs policy cannot be undermined in this way. Swiss law, it says, prohibits the country's courts from compelling a VPN service to log IP addresses.

STRONG ON PRIVACY: Proton VPN is a privacy-focused provider with servers in a large number of countries. Offers good connections while traveling abroad and access to all of the major streaming services. Comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of Proton VPN.

Atlas VPN combines impressive connection speeds, robust security, and unlimited device connections. Its apps have an attractively clean GUI and offer straightforward access to the most popular streaming platforms for British TV. 

Features include split tunneling, which enables you to specify which apps connect via the VPN tunnel; a kill switch; a data breach monitor and malware blocker; and access to MultiHop servers. This latter feature picks a random exit server from the Atlas VPN network and keeps changing it so that a user’s online activity becomes effectively untraceable.

Atlas VPN has a strict no-logs policy and provides additional privacy via its SafeSwap feature. This rotates subscribers’ outgoing internet traffic through multiple IP addresses while connected to a single server. 

Users’ internet traffic is protected using AES-256-bit or ChaCha20 channel encryption, together with BLAKE2s for hashing, and SHA-384 or Poly1305 authentication. Apps are free from IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks and available for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux.

Atlas VPN was acquired by Nord Security in 2021. As mentioned earlier, this is the now-parent company of Surfshark, too. Slowly, but surely, the VPN market is becoming an oligopoly. This ultimately means less choice for the consumer, and an environment where price increases go unchallenged. 

ROBUST SECURITY: Atlas VPN provides reliably quick connections and consistent access to BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4. It also offers good security and privacy features. You can try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of Atlas VPN.

CyberGhost is one of the fastest VPNs on the market, making it a good option for expats keen on streaming content from the UK. Providing they have a fast base connection, watching 4K content should pose no problems. During tests, the provider worked well with BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4. This is thanks to optimized streaming servers, working with numerous British TV channels. 

CyberGhost has a vast RAM-only server network, with 792+ in the UK alone. For those willing to pay a little extra, CyberGhost provides access to high-security NoSpy servers in its Romanian data center. 

User data is protected using a combination of 256-bit AES encryption, 2,048-bit RSA keys and SHA256 authentication. The provider uses its own DNS servers and is free from DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks. 

CyberGhost VPN apps are nicely designed, with an easy-to-use interface. They’re available for Windows, macOS, Linux (command line), iOS, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV. The provider also has free Chrome and Firefox browser extensions.

Some CyberGhost features are only available on specific platforms. For example, split tunneling is restricted to Android. Windows users, meanwhile, get access to Smart Rules, which enables them to fine-tune the app. Options include specifying particular servers to connect to on an app-by-app basis, and making rules for connecting to different WiFi networks. 

Subscribers are able to connect up to seven devices simultaneously, though it’s worth noting that CyberGhost can be manually configured on routers supporting OpenVPN protocols. Router installation only counts as a single connection, regardless of how many devices are in your home network. 

In 2017, CyberGhost was bought by Kape Technologies – a company that had previously made money from selling ad-ware injection software. Kape now focuses on providing cybersecurity solutions, and has bought up several VPNs to bolster its reputation. As well as the already mentioned ExpressVPN and CyberGhost, it also owns Private Internet Access and Zenmate VPN.  

CyberGhost adheres to a strict no-logs policy, which has been independently audited by Deloitte – one of the Big Four accounting firms. Having moved its headquarters to Romania, CyberGhost lies beyond the reach of the 5/9/14 intelligence-sharing alliances.

FAST CONNECTIONS: CyberGhost is a great choice for expats, as it combines very fast speeds with easy access to UK streaming services. Long-term subscriptions are great value and come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of CyberGhost.

PrivateVPN offers excellent access to UK TV while traveling abroad and is a solid option for torrenting, too. Features include system-wide and app-specific kill switches; access to an HTTP and SOCKS5 Proxy; and a Stealth mode that can help expats get connected and stop tracking in restrictive countries like China. 

Apps are free from IPv6, WebRTC and DNS leaks, and are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire TV. Subscribers can use them with up to 10 devices simultaneously. PrivateVPN software can also be installed on compatible routers, with a dedicated customer support team on hand to offer remote control assistance if you get into difficulties.

PrivateVPN protects users’ internet traffic using 256-bit encryption, though this can be lowered to 128-bit if desired. In either case, SHA256 is used for authentication, together with 2,048-bit RSA keys. PrivateVPN also acts as both its own server host and ISP, which provides a further boost to security.

PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, which is a member of the SIGINT Seniors Europe international intelligence-sharing alliance. SIGINT’s activities, according to documents leaked by Edward Snowden and published in The Intercept, include collaborating to monitor and intercept communications during major European events.

The good news is that PrivateVPN has what appears to be a robust no-logs policy, meaning that it doesn’t store any user data. However, this has yet to be independently audited by a third party. 

STEALTH MODE: PrivateVPN enables connections where internet access is restricted, and offers good access to popular British TV platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and All 4. Plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Methodology: How we chose the best UK VPNs for expats

VPNs are useful for more than just catching up on Eastenders. They can help protect your devices when using WiFi abroad; hide your online activity from your ISP; and help you gain access to the internet in countries where its use is restricted. In choosing which providers are best for accessing British TV, we’ve therefore also considered which features make them suited to expats more generally.

• Access to streaming platforms: If you’re planning on watching UK TV, it’s essential to choose a VPN that actually works with British streaming services. Many say they do, only to fail miserably in practice. We regularly test providers to check which services they can access. At the time of writing, all of our recommended providers work with British content via BBC iPlayer, Channel 5, ITVX, and All 4. 
• Global server network, with plenty in the UK: Connecting to a server in the UK is essential to get a British IP address and access British streaming services. As well as having plenty of servers available in Wales, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland, the best VPNs have options in a wide variety of other countries, too. This gives expats additional streaming options, such as access to the US Netflix catalog.  
• Fast connection speeds: There’s nothing more frustrating than an endlessly buffering video stream. We only like to recommend providers that can seamlessly stream HD – and 4K – content. To this end, we regularly test the top providers to ensure we give preference to the fastest. 
• Privacy and security: VPNs are first and foremost a privacy tool. They should refrain from collecting your personal information, while doing their utmost to hide it from third parties. At the very least, they should include a robust no-log policy, 256-AES encryption, leak protection, and kill switches. Bonus features include auto-connect, MultiHop servers, and effective obfuscation.
• Ease of use: A clean, intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) makes it easy for expats who may be new to VPNs to get connected in seconds. The better providers also make it possible for more experienced users to configure the apps to their liking. 
• Value for money: It’s not cheap running a VPN – especially one able to bypass blocks put in place by the likes of the BBC. So while it’s inevitable that you’ll need to pay for a subscription, this need not be excessive. We strive to ensure that providers are worth what they charge. If their subscription fees aren't in line with the quality of service on offer, then we don’t include them. 

To make one of the top three positions in our recommended provider list, VPNs must also fulfill the following requirements:

• Diskless servers: Diskless – sometimes referred to as RAM-only – servers are ideal for VPN networks. They are wiped clean after every reboot, making them effectively useless if seized by government agencies or compromised by hackers. The better providers have switched their entire server networks to RAM-only.
• Independently audited infrastructure and software: The majority of VPNs claim to have a no-logs policy. However, several court cases demonstrate that when pressure is applied by the legal system, many VPNs manage to produce detailed user data. We, therefore, give preference to providers that bring in third-party auditors to examine the privacy and security of their software and infrastructure. 

Software audits check apps for any exploits that could reveal a user’s online activity or compromise the hardware running them. Infrastructure audits establish whether servers have any major security vulnerabilities or could inadvertently collect user data.

• Incorporation outside the scope of intelligence alliances: The existence of international intelligence-sharing alliances is no secret. While a VPN’s no-logs policy goes some way to providing reassurance that your data is safe, we prefer providers to place themselves beyond the reach of countries that routinely spy on each other’s citizens, and share the resulting data.

The better providers operate under the jurisdiction of countries that aren’t members of publicly-recognised intelligence alliances. For example, ExpressVPN is registered in the British Virgin Islands, while NordVPN operates under the jurisdiction of Panama.

• Access to China: China has some of the most advanced VPN-blocking technology in the world – as any expat living there will be fully aware. Nevertheless, a few providers are still capable of bypassing the Great Firewall. At the time of writing only NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN were able to successfully access the country.  

How to watch UK TV online from anywhere

Follow these simple steps to stream British TV from abroad:

1. Choose a VPN that has a demonstrable ability to access UK streaming services. We recommend NordVPN.
2. Pick a subscription plan and sign up. 
3. Download and install the relevant app for your device.
4. Restart your device once the installation is complete. 
5. Open the VPN app and choose a UK server from the country list.
6. Click the “connect” button.
7. Wait until the app tells you that a connection has been established.
8. Open the desired streaming site and start watching British TV.   

Best VPNs for streaming British TV abroad: FAQs

Can I use a free VPN to watch UK TV from abroad?

You can try, but you’ll likely be wasting your time. Streaming services like BBC iPlayer are very good at detecting VPN use and have managed to block all but a few VPNs. Even if you do manage to connect, you’ll need to put up with frequent buffering. Free VPNs tend to have a lot of users and not enough servers. Congestion is normal, with some services requiring users to wait in a queue for a connection.

Free VPNs are also concerning from a privacy perspective. As most are ad-driven, they have logging policies that permit the collection and sale of user data. Some may unwittingly act as vectors for malware.

What UK TV can I watch with a VPN?

British TV shows like The Tourist, Vigil, Love Island, and Masterchef are big business. Sales of home-grown content to buyers around the world brought in more than $1.8bn in 2021/22 alone, according to Television Business International. 

The US is the largest importer, followed by Australia, France, Canada, and the Nordic countries. This means that expats living in these countries should be able to access some British TV easily enough through their national broadcasters. 

But what about people not living in these countries? This is where a VPN comes in handy. By connecting to a server in the UK, users in any country with internet access can watch content from UK streaming platforms directly.

Available programs at the time of writing include:

• Happy Valley
• The Bay
• Dragon’s Den 
• Eastenders
• Vera
• Hollyoaks

Can I watch Eurovision abroad with a VPN?

You can. Signing up for a subscription with one of our recommended providers will enable you to access BBC iPlayer. Using this, you’ll be able to watch both semi-finals live. 

Normally, live events experience a delay before appearing on iPlayer. This, says the BBC, is because “they need to be made available in a format suitable to be published on BBC iPlayer before they can be uploaded”. It can take up to four times the length of the live programme before it becomes available.

How can I watch UK TV abroad legally?

Using a VPN to watch British TV abroad isn’t illegal, though it will almost certainly violate the accessed platform’s terms of service. Those that detect a VPN is being used will simply block access.

It’s worth mentioning that there are a few countries that have banned VPNs – primarily so that their respective governments can retain power. Expats living in Iraq, Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, and the UAE should only use VPNs with caution. 

Can I watch the BBC abroad with a VPN?

BBC iPlayer is the BBC’s video-on-demand service. It can be accessed using VPNs with servers in the UK that haven’t yet been blacklisted. BBC iPlayer is particularly good at recognising – and then blocking – VPNs, which is why it’s so important to choose a provider carefully. 

Make sure you sign up for a subscription that comes with a no-quibbles 30-day money-back guarantee. That way, if you discover a particular service doesn’t work, you can cancel it and get a refund. 

Can I stream Premiership football with a VPN?

Yes, connecting to a VPN server in the UK allows you to appear as if you are back home in Britain, enabling you to watch live football matches and repeats. Whether you want to watch Match of the Day on BBC One or live Premiership matches on Sky Sports, a VPN can help you regain access to your preferred channels and platforms. Here is a list of broadcasters in England that show Premiership matches:

1. BBC Sport
2. Sky Sports
3. BT Sport
4. Amazon Prime Video
5. Premier Sports

With a VPN, you can bypass geographical restrictions and enjoy uninterrupted streaming of Premiership football from anywhere in the world. Just bear in mind that only a few VPNs work to stream British TV, so stick to our recommendations to avoid disappointment.

Can I access British bookies abroad with a VPN?

Yes, you can access British bookies from anywhere by using a VPN. Connecting to a VPN server in the UK hides your real IP address and allows you to appear to be in Britain no matter where you go on vacation. As a result, you can access any British service, including bookies from abroad. 

Some popular British bookmakers that you can access abroad with a VPN include:

1. William Hill
2. Ladbrokes
3. Bet365
4. Coral
5. Paddy Power
6. Betfair
7. Betway
8. 888sport
9. Sky Bet
10. BetVictor

Using a VPN not only helps you bypass geographical restrictions but also provides an additional layer of security and privacy when accessing online bookmakers. This helps to prevent you from being tracked, which is useful if you are using bookies at work or elsewhere they are blocked.

Please bear in mind that gambling laws vary from country to country, so it's advisable to ensure that online gambling is legal in your current location before deciding to use a VPN to bypass gambling blocks. Nothing in this guide should be taken as legal advice and you should always do your own research and never break local laws.