How to watch British TV in the USA and abroad

There are several British TV streaming platforms you can watch in the USA, such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 5, and Channel 4. However, all of these UK TV platforms are geo-blocked, and you will need a VPN to access them. A VPN can relocate your IP address to the location of your chosen server and make it look like you’re accessing British TV platforms from there. Once you have the UK IP address via a VPN connection, you can access F1 and MotoGP highlights, football match live-streams, horse racing event coverage, and stream popular series, such as Murder 24/7 and Derry Girls, possibly for free.

My in-house testing showed that not all VPNs can bypass geo-blocks imposed on UK streaming platforms. This is due to various reasons, including weak encryption, lack of obfuscation, IP leaks, and blacklisted servers. Ultimately, NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN stood out as the best VPNs for UK TV. These services are very reliable at unblocking UK platforms, offer high connection speeds for smooth streaming, and robust security features to keep your activities private.

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Key takeaways

You can watch British TV in the US and abroad by using a reliable VPN to bypass geographical restrictions. Popular UK streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and Channel 5 are free to use but are geo-blocked. By connecting to a VPN server in the U.K., you can obtain a UK IP address, making it appear as though you are streaming from within the country. This not only gives you access to popular series but also live sports and news, often for free.

Top VPNs for British TV

• NordVPN: The best overall choice due to its high-speed connections, large fleet of over 440 servers in the UK, and reliable geo-unblocking capabilities.
• Surfshark: An excellent and affordable option that provides consistently fast speeds and allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous device connections.
• Proton VPN: A strong choice for privacy-focused users, offering solid speeds and a robust server network that includes over 273 servers in the UK.

How to Watch UK TV for Free

• Use a VPN: A premium VPN is required to bypass the geo-restrictions of UK streaming services.
• Create a free account: Platforms like BBC iPlayer and ITVX are free to stream, but require a quick account registration. You'll need a random UK postal code, which can be found online.
• Leverage free trials: Many top-tier VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to access British TV completely free for a limited time.

For a full step-by-step setup guide and detailed test results for each recommended VPN, read the complete article.

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When signing up for UK TV providers outside the country, you’ll likely be asked to enter a UK postal code. Platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and My5 require this. You can get a random UK postal code, like SW1A 1AA or similar, through a UK address generator online. No further verification is required after you enter the postal code.

Best VPNs to watch UK TV abroad

1. NordVPN

   Best VPN for British TV with the largest UK server fleet
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   Fastest VPN to watch UK TV on any device
   9.5
3. Proton VPN

   Privacy-focused VPN for watching British TV from the USA
   8.6

To find the best VPNs to stream UK TV from the US and abroad, I rigorously tested around 20 providers. I checked how reliable the VPNs were at bypassing geo-blocks, performed speed tests, and checked server performance consistency. Then, I reviewed their server availability in the UK and the security features that the VPNs guaranteed. Ultimately, I found my top 3 VPNs to watch UK TV abroad – you can find my reviews below.

Top 1. NordVPN - best overall VPN to watch British TV abroad

NordVPN is the best VPN overall for accessing UK TV in the US and abroad. It offers high-speed connections and is very reliable for bypassing geo-restrictions.

Overall, NordVPN has 9,300+ servers in 137+ countries, 440+ of which are in the UK. You can select a specific server in the UK, like London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh; however, I found the servers in London and Manchester to be slightly faster. Speaking of speeds, my testing showed an average connection speed of 468Mbps with a 96% initial speed retention rate – perfect speeds for streaming and other online activities.

The NordVPN features that make it so easy to bypass geo-restrictions include obfuscated servers, the SmartPlay feature, and the NordWhisper tunneling protocol. Obfuscated servers make it harder for streaming platforms to identify VPN usage, but if you need something even stealthier, then try the NordWhisper protocol, which was made specifically for bypassing VPN blocks and internet censorship. Meanwhile, the SmartPlay feature combines the capabilities of Smart DNS and VPN for a smoother streaming experience.

This powerful and capable VPN is available for $3.09/month, and as one subscription covers up to 10 devices, it is definitely a bargain price. If you’d rather test it before purchasing, you can do so during the 7-day free trial or extend the period with the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Top 2. Surfshark - fast and affordable VPN for UK TV

Surfshark combines excellent connection speeds with affordability, making it one of the best choices for streaming British TV in the US and abroad.

In total, Surfshark owns around 4,500 servers in 100+ countries. This list includes 212+ servers in the UK, in four major cities: London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Similarly to NordVPN, I found the servers in London and Manchester to be slightly faster and more suitable for faraway connections, such as from the US. During Surfshark testing, the service showed a 466Mbps connection speed average with a 94% initial speed retention rate, similar to NordVPN.

Surfshark got me into BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and other UK streaming platforms very easily, and it can be attributed to the service’s use of modern tunneling protocols, like WireGuard and strong AES-256 encryption. However, besides these key features, Surfshark also offers obfuscation to sneak through VPN detection blocks, a Bypasser to smartly route your network connection for faster loading times, and a Smart DNS, which you can use if your streaming device does not support a VPN.

Surfshark VPN is currently priced at only $1.99/month, making it the cheapest VPN on my list. Plus, with one subscription, you can cover an unlimited number of devices. Naturally, you may like to try it first before committing, and for that, Surfshark offers a convenient 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Top 3. Proton VPN - secure VPN for watching UK TV from the USA

Proton VPN is a great VPN to access British streaming platforms in the US and abroad, especially if you’re looking for a security-oriented service and do not mind slightly slower connection speeds.

Proton VPN operates a massive fleet of 20,075+ servers in around 145+ countries, with 273+ in the UK, specifically in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Belfast, and Edinburgh. As noted in our Proton VPN review, the average connection speeds hover at around 428Mbps with an 88% initial speed retention rate. This is slower than my top 2 VPN choices, but still more than enough for smooth streaming.

Speaking of streaming and connection speeds, Proton VPN has a unique VPN Accelerator feature that can boost faraway connection speeds up to four times. This is very handy when connecting to the UK from the US. Additionally, features like obfuscation and SecureCore servers that route your traffic through two servers in one go also made accessing BBC iPlayer and ITVX from abroad much easier. However, Proton VPN does not offer Smart DNS, making it unsuitable for use on devices that do not support VPN connections, like older smart TV models.

Right now, you can get Proton VPN for just $2.99/month. One subscription covers up to 10 devices, and while the service does not offer a free trial, you can test it out with its limited-feature free version. If you’d rather test the full version, you can do so during the 30-day money-back guarantee period.

Best VPNs for watching UK TV abroad: comparison table

How to watch live British TV in the USA for free: detailed guide

Several free UK streaming services exist, such as ITVX, Channel 4, Channel 5, and BBC iPlayer. However, they’re geo-restricted and can’t be accessed in the US without a VPN. With a VPN, like NordVPN, you can connect to a UK server, obtain a local IP address, and enjoy the ad-supported free content on BBC iPlayer or any other chosen platform as if you were in the UK.

You can take advantage of NordVPN or Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee to watch British TV from the US completely free for a month.

Here's how to use a VPN to stream UK TV in the US:

Step 1: Get a VPN with UK servers

A reliable VPN with servers in the UK is essential to stream British TV in the US. A VPN changes your IP address through a server connection and bypasses geo-restrictions. Remember that not all VPNs can unblock UK streaming platforms from abroad, and free services often fail to grant access to British streaming sites completely.

To stream worry-free, I always recommend choosing a top-tested VPN, like NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN. I personally tested them with UK streaming platforms, and all of these VPNs easily unblocked all major British streaming platforms.

Step 2: Download and install the VPN

If you’re using a laptop, personal computer, gaming console, or smart TV, you can download the VPN app from the provider's official website. If you prefer to stream on your mobile device, you can get the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, depending on your device’s operating system.

Installing the VPN on your device is usually very quick and requires just a few steps. Once the installation is complete, launch the app, log in, and allow necessary permissions if prompted to ensure proper VPN functionality.

Step 3: Connect to a UK server

Once you have completed the previous steps and your VPN app is up and running, you can connect to a server in the UK. I recommend choosing bigger UK cities, such as London or Manchester, since from my experience, such servers are generally faster than in remote locations.

Pro tip: If you cannot unblock your selected UK streaming platform with the server you’re currently connected to, try switching to another one in the UK, as it usually solves the problem. Alternatively, you can use one of the obfuscated servers, which are harder to identify as VPN traffic to streaming platforms, or use NordVPN’s SmartPlay feature, which combines VPN and Smart DNS for smoother streaming and a better geo-unblocking experience.

Step 4: Sign up or log in to a UK streaming platform

Major UK streaming platforms, like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and My5, are free and only require an account. However, some services, notably BBC iPlayer and a few others, require a UK postcode to finish registration – you can get one via a random UK postal code generator online. Once you’ve successfully registered and logged in, you can stream UK TV like a local.

No payment is needed to stream on these British platforms – you only need to create an account, and you can stream the ad-supported content completely free.

Stream UK TV from abroad with NordVPN

Can you use a free VPN to watch UK TV?

Technically, you can use a free VPN to watch UK TV while in the US. However, most free VPNs have much slower speeds, limited server options, and do not offer the same robust security and privacy features as premium VPNs.

During my in-house testing, no free VPN could bypass geo-restrictions and access UK TV streaming platforms. This is primarily because of the blacklisted servers which are instantly picked up by the sites, poor IP leak protection measures, and subpar encryption, that makes your traffic potentially visible to the platforms. For example, neither Hola VPN nor Hide.me could unblock BBC iPlayer.

What worked best for me to access UK TV from the US was to use a premium VPN and take advantage of the free trial and the money-back guarantee. This allowed me to watch British TV completely free for over a month. You could do it too with NordVPN’s 7-day free trial and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Surfshark offers the same deal for its clients, while Proton VPN only has the 30-day money-back guarantee in addition to its free version.

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What is the best streaming platform for British TV?

Choosing the best streaming platform for British TV depends on what content you want to watch. The most popular free streaming platform choices include BBC iPlayer, known for its wide range of on-demand content, live channels, and exclusive shows. Meanwhile, ITVX has a nice selection of TV dramas, reality shows, and live broadcasts, while Channel 4 (All 4) and Channel 5 (My5) also have a good variety of popular UK TV programs. Live sports fans can find all major UK sports events broadcast on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

The best UK TV streaming platforms mostly depends on your own preferences, but BBC iPlayer is often considered as the top choice for British TV content for its wide library and good streaming quality. Remember, that each platform requires a free account, granting legal access to British TV content. However, all of these platforms are also geo-restricted to UK only.

Unlock British TV in the US with NordVPN

Conclusion

You can watch British TV online for free on several streaming platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and Channel 5. All of these sites require only a free account to stream. However, they are also geo-restricted to the UK and are not available in the US or anywhere else.

Fortunately, you can use a reliable streaming VPN to access UK TV platforms from anywhere in the world. With a VPN, you can get a UK IP address and trick the streaming platforms into thinking you’re accessing them locally. During my testing, I found that NordVPN is the most reliable at bypassing these geo-restrictions and streaming British TV online lag-free.

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FAQ

Can I use a VPN to watch UK TV?

Yes, you can use a VPN to watch UK TV. Select a reliable VPN with servers in the UK, like NordVPN, and connect to one of them. Now, with the British IP address, you should be able to access local streaming platforms as if you were located in the country.

Is it legal to watch UK TV abroad?

No, technically it is not illegal to watch UK TV abroad, but it might violate specific platform’s terms and conditions. To successfully access UK TV from anywhere, choose a reliable VPN that will trick the streaming sites into thinking you’re located in the UK. My top choice for accessing British TV in the US and abroad is NordVPN for its reliable geo-unblocking capabilities and strong security features.

How do I watch British TV in America?

To watch British TV in America, you will need to use a VPN. Most UK streaming platforms are only available within the country. A VPN can change your IP address to a UK address and trick the sites into thinking you’re accessing them from Britain. Remember to choose a reliable and secure VPN, like NordVPN, which will ensure successful bypassing of geo-restrictions.

Can I buy a UK TV licence if I live abroad?

No, you cannot buy a UK TV licence if you’re not a UK, Isle of Man, or Channel Islands resident. In this case, even a VPN won’t help as the TV licence is tied to a UK residential address. However, you can still access free UK streaming platforms, like ITVX and BBC iPlayer by changing your IP address with the help of a reliable VPN, like NordVPN.

What is the best free VPN to watch UK TV?

I do not recommend using a free VPN to watch UK TV, as such services are usually incapable of bypassing geo-blocks. Instead, I recommend selecting a premium VPN, like NordVPN, Surfshark, or Proton VPN, and taking advantage of their free trials and 30-day money-back guarantees. This way, you’ll easily access the UK streaming services for free for over a month.

Is there a free app for British TV?

Yes, there are several free apps for British TV, including BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 (All 4), and Channel 5 (All 5). However, to access the UK TV content on them, you will need to use a VPN to obtain a local IP address. My top VPN choice for unblocking British TV is NordVPN, as it is very reliable and easy to use.