How to get a UK IP address in 2023

Whether you want to enjoy British streaming services or need to access your UK bank account, there are plenty of reasons you might need a UK IP address. For both UK residents on holiday or living abroad long-term, a UK IP address can make life easier. You can use it to access local UK websites and services or unblock Netflix UK and watch The Crown.

While a proxy server can generate a UK IP address for you, the better choice is to use a VPN. With a trustworthy VPN, you can connect to a server in the UK and get a UK IP address, all while your activity is fully encrypted and secured. Whereas a proxy can only supply the IP – it doesn’t have the same security and privacy features to keep you safe.

Ready to get a secure UK IP address? Keep reading, and we’ll show you how to do it in this article.

How to get a UK IP address with a VPN

1. Choose a trustworthy VPN with plenty of UK servers. Our top pick is NordVPN, now 63% off!
2. Download and open your VPN app
3. Find a UK server and connect to it
4. Now, with a UK IP address, you can access any British content

Get a UK IP address with NordVPN

To get a UK IP address you need a VPN. A VPN will give you a new IP address, which will help you change your location, in this case, the UK.

What is a UK IP address?

A UK IP address is simply an IP address that shows you’re located in the UK. An IP address appears as a unique set of numbers and is like your home address for the digital world. It sets you apart from billions of other devices and can convey your approximate physical location.

If you’re physically in the United Kingdom and browse the web, you’ll naturally generate a UK IP address. This will allow you to access UK-based streaming services and locally secured websites, like banks. You can also generate a UK IP address with a reputable VPN. When you connect to a UK server with your VPN, your real IP address will be masked, and the UK one will be visible online.

Why you need a UK IP address?

You’ll need a UK IP address if you want access to local British services but you’re out of the country. But that’s not the only case where changing your IP address is beneficial. Read on and find all the reasons to have a UK IP:

• Banking and government sites. These local services will often restrict access if it’s not coming from within the UK. If you’re living abroad but still maintain a bank account in the UK, you might need a UK IP address to gain access to your own account.
• Entertainment and streaming. Netflix UK, BBC iPlayer, and other UK-only streaming services need a UK IP address for access. Even UK residents on a short trip abroad are restricted from watching their favorite shows on vacation. By connecting to a VPN and using a UK server, it can be like you are walking down the British lands.
• Local sporting events. Don’t want to miss a single match? A UK IP address can ensure you can live stream your favorite sporting events, like F1 British Grand Prix or Wimbledon, from the platforms you use at home.
• Changes in other sites. There are other unexpected websites where a UK IP address can come in handy. Spotify, for example, can restrict your account log-in if you’re out of the country for too long. Or, you might find flight tickets more expensive from the country you’re currently in.
• Security and privacy. The UK is a member of the 5-Eyes alliance, meaning that the British or other intelligence members can access your data when needed. However, by using a VPN and even changing your current UK IP to the VPN-given UK IP, you can mask your online identity and stay anonymous.

How can I get a free UK IP Address?

While it might be tempting to snag a VPN that advertises itself as ‘free,’ we’ve got some less risky alternatives for you. Free VPNs have a nasty reputation for collecting and selling user data, failing to get around geo-restrictions, and having an overall unpleasant user experience.

Instead of getting trapped in the uncertain world of free VPNs, we suggest using a trustworthy VPN with a generous money-back guarantee or free trial. That way, you get all the privacy, security, and performance you’ll need without making a significant investment upfront.

All of our recommended VPNs offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. That means you can purchase a plan, fully test out the VPN and its features, and still get a full refund if you change your mind within 30 days.

Alternatively, you can use a free trial of one of these reliable VPNs if you just need a few days to access a UK site. For Android users, you can get a 7-day NordVPN free trial through the Play Store. Meanwhile, Surfshark has a 7-day free trial for iOS, macOS, and Android.

Best VPNs for getting a UK IP

We’ve done the research and have put together 3 excellent VPNs that can help you get a UK IP address. All of these recommended VPNs have great server selections within the UK and impressive security suites to keep your data private and secure.

1. NordVPN - the best VPN for a UK IP address overall

Visit NordVPN

NordVPN comes in at the top of our list for getting a UK IP address. This VPN has over 440 servers in the UK alone, allowing you to choose between locations like London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, or Manchester. You can even purchase your own static IP address located in the UK.

With NordVPN, your online activity will be kept private with high-level AES-256-bit encryption. It’s also highly adept at unblocking geo-restricted content, letting you stream easily the Netflix UK library or BBC iPlayer.

Starting at $3.49 a month, you can get a NordVPN plan that offers 6 simultaneous connections. And with a month-long money-back guarantee, you get the chance to test the service risk-free.

For more information about this VPN’s impressive offerings, check out our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark - UK VPN with for the best price-to-quality ratio

Visit Surfshark VPN

Surfshark comes in as a cheap but extremely strong VPN for getting a UK IP address. This provider has an impressive selection of 360 servers in the UK. Plus, you can choose from four different locations: London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.

Surfshark is one of the most secure VPNs, which shines bright regarding performance too. You’ll be protected with AES-256-bit encryption and an audited no-logs policy. While combining its fast speeds and unblocking capabilities, you’ll be able to enjoy all British streaming sites with ease.

For as low as $2.30 a month, you’ll get unlimited connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For more on what this outstanding VPN offers, check out our complete Surfshark review.

3. Atlas VPN – budget-friendly option for UK IP address

Visit Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN is a reliable and cheap choice for getting a UK IP address. This VPN offers London-based servers and even includes streaming-optimized servers for this region. However, the exact number of UK servers is undisclosed.

Atlas VPN also offers AES-256-bit encryption to keep all your online activity private. Its use of the next-gen WireGuard protocol is ideal for both speed and security. Plus, with the no-log policy, the provider promises not to collect or use your personal data.

You can get an Atlas VPN subscription for as low as $1.82 a month. For this, you can have unlimited simultaneous connections per account and test the service risk-free for a month.

Want more details about this budget-friendly provider? Visit our in-depth Atlas VPN review.

Is using a UK IP address legal?

Using a VPN in the UK is perfectly legal, as long as your online activity itself isn’t breaking any laws. Moreso, keep in mind that accessing British streaming services using a VPN often goes against the Terms of Service. So you might need to reconnect to the server once or twice after getting the IP blocked.

Another matter of fact is that the UK is one of the core members of the 5-eyes alliance, making it part of the 9-eyes and 14-eyes alliance as well. These are all intelligence alliances that help member countries collect personal online data legally.

While the UK is part of these intelligence alliances, you can still securely use a VPN that isn’t headquartered in any of the member countries. When a VPN is outside of 5/9/14-eyes jurisdiction, it won’t be subject to suspicious data collection and retention laws.

For those interested in keeping personal data private and secure, NordVPN is the best choice. This VPN is headquartered in Panama, making it outside of any intelligence alliance jurisdiction.

Visit NordVPN

Final thoughts

Getting a UK IP address can make life a lot easier for both short-term travelers and long-term expats. Whether you want to stream a match or log into your bank account, a VPN can help you with all your UK-related online activities.

With the largest server selection in the UK and the option to purchase a static UK IP, NordVPN is our top choice for getting a UK IP address. Plus, it will keep all your activity encrypted and outside of the 5/9/14-eyes alliance jurisdiction.

Changed your IP address to the British one already? Let us know about your experience in the comments section below!

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