How to watch UK TV in the USA and abroad in 2024
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The UK has given us some of the most iconic television in history — from gripping dramas to heartwarming comedies and edge-of-your-seat reality shows. But if you’ve ever tried to watch UK-exclusive services like BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, ITV, or Sky while outside the country, you’ve likely run into a frustrating roadblock. Geo-blocks keep this content locked to UK viewers only.
Fortunately, most people have heard about VPNs, but I get it — starting to use one can feel a bit intimidating at first.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use a VPN to access UK TV while traveling or living abroad in 2024. If you love British TV as much as I do, you’ll want to keep reading!
How to watch British TV in USA with VPN
- Register for a reliable VPN with UK servers. I recommend NordVPN, now 74% OFF
- Download and install the software
- Connect your VPN to a UK server
- Login to the streaming service of your choice. If you’re not registered yet, you’ll need to sign up with a UK zip code
- Search for the show, sit back, and enjoy!
Why do you need a VPN to watch UK TV in USA?
UK TV is often subject to geo-blocks because the content needs to comply with licensing restrictions and laws. As a result, you will need a reputable VPN to watch UK TV if you are outside of the country.
With a VPN, you can overcome geo-restrictions and connect to a UK server. A VPN works by changing your IP address so that you appear to be logging in from a country where the content is readily available. By using a VPN with UK servers, you will gain access to UK TV.
Best VPNs to watch British TV in 2024
When it comes to watching UK TV, here are the three great VPNs that will do the job. All options offer a 30 day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing.
- NordVPN - best VPN to watch UK TV in USA
- Surfshark - good VPN to watch British TV in US
- IPVanish – well-rounded VPN for watching UK TV abroad
You can also check out our article which takes you through the best VPNs for streaming here.
1. NordVPN – best VPN to watch UK TV in USA
| Based in: | Panama |
| Servers/countries: | 6800+ servers in 111 countries |
| Unblocks Netflix: | Yes |
| Coupons: | NordVPN coupon 74% OFF |
NordVPN is the best VPN to watch British TV. The service has plenty of UK servers, meaning that you will always have reliable access to UK TV content. It also promises fast connection speeds, security features, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Thanks to advanced encryption, NordVPN keeps you safe and entirely invisible online. It also boasts the largest network in the market!
2. Surfshark – good VPN to watch British TV in US
| Based in: | The Netherlands |
| Servers/countries: | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
| Unblocks Netflix: | Yes |
| Coupons: | Surfshark coupon 87% OFF |
Surfshark is easy on the wallet and promises rapid streaming speeds. With no connection limit (you can use it on multiple devices at once) and a wide range of security features - Surfshark is a brilliant option for streaming UK TV.
The service keeps you completely anonymous, and you will be well protected with 256-encryption and an automatic malware scanner and ad-blocker.
3. IPVanish – well-rounded VPN for watching UK TV abroad
| Based in: | United States |
| Servers/countries: | 2400+ servers in 100 countries |
| Unblocks Netflix: | Yes |
| Coupons: | Now up to 83% OFF IPVanish |
IPVanish is a versatile VPN service capable of unblocking UK TV services anywhere abroad. It offers a solid fleet of 2400+ servers across 100+ countries, including numerous options in the United Kingdom. Most importantly, you won’t have to worry about connection speeds because this VPN employs the cutting-edge WireGuard protocol.
You can effortlessly install IPVanish on any desktop and mobile device using its dedicated apps. The service also works seamlessly with various streaming devices, such as Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, and Android TV.
How to sign up to UK TV providers outside the UK
As I mentioned above, you’ll need to be signed up to a UK TV provider if you wish to access the content. I’ve used the BBC iPlayer as an example, but the steps will be the same for any TV provider of your choice. Check them out below:
- Download a VPN with UK servers. Try NordVPN
- Once your VPN is downloaded, connect to a UK server
- You will now be able to access the streaming service website
- Click sign in on the BBC iPlayer website to create an account
- You will be prompted to register your details, which will include providing a UK zip code
- Once you’ve completed the process, submit your details and login!
How to use a VPN to watch UK TV from anywhere
A VPN makes it possible to watch UK TV from outside the UK. Wherever you are in the world, you simply need to follow these five steps to access UK TV:
- Download and install a reliable VPN with UK servers. I recommend NordVPN
- Open the VPN app on your chosen device
- Connect to a UK server
- Choose the streaming service that you wish to watch UK TV on. Open the relevant app if you’re on a mobile device or smart TV, or head to the website if you’re on a PC
- Search for your show and enjoy what UK TV offers!
Can’t access UK TV with a VPN?
Nothing is foolproof, and you may find that sometimes you can’t access UK TV – despite having a VPN on at all times. When this happens, it’s likely that you need a different VPN.
If you’re met with an error message that says the content you wish to watch is not available in your country, it means your VPN is not working. The chances are that you are still connected to a server outside the UK.
In this instance, the first step you should take is to check whether your VPN is running. If it is, then you likely need to find a more reliable VPN provider.
Some other issues that may interfere when trying to watch UK TV with a VPN include:
- The streaming service has blocked servers used by your VPN
- You have cookies on your device that indicate you are outside of the UK
- The IP address and GPS location of your device do not match
- Your real IP address is leaking
- The VPN you are using isn’t able to unblock your chosen streaming service
To help with the above mentioned issues, I’ve compiled some effective solutions:
- Search for the leak protection setting on your VPN. Enable it!
- Change your VPN
- Get in touch with customer support for your VPN
- Try a different browser
- Clear your cache and cookies
How to watch UK TV in USA free
Watching UK TV in the USA is quite challenging because practically all reliable free VPN services lack servers in the United Kingdom. That means you can’t use them to gain a UK IP and unlock platforms like BBC iPlayer abroad.
A viable alternative for watching UK TV abroad for free is using free trial VPNs. While temporary, this method allows unmitigated access to a VPN service’s feature set, including all server locations. Thus, you can see if it works on your device with your desired streaming service. Here are some options we recommend for watching UK TV for free.
- NordVPN. The top option for streaming UK TV anywhere offers a 7-day free trial on the Google Play Store. You can also utilize the 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t have an Android device.
- Surfshark. Surfshark is a worthwhile option that offers a 7-day free trial on Google Play and Apple App stores. If that’s not suitable, go ahead with the 30-day money-back guarantee.
What can you watch on UK TV?
There’s no doubt about it – UK TV has so much to offer, whatever your taste may be. I’ve compiled a list of some of my favourite British TV channels and shows below:
| UK TV channels | Popular UK TV shows |
| ITV | Love Island | The Chase |
| BBC | Eastenders | Line of Duty | Time | Killing Eve | Blue Planet | BBC News |
| Channel 4 | Bake Off | First Dates |
| Netflix UK | Peep Show |
| E4 | The Big Bang Theory |
| Amazon UK | Good Omens |
Conclusion
The UK TV industry continues to impress a global audience with a multitude of popular shows and movies. Though many UK exclusive streaming services geo-block this content, it’s possible to watch UK TV anywhere in the world using a VPN.
Our research has shown that NordVPN is the best VPN to watch UK TV in USA. With it, you can bypass geo-blocks and change your IP address so it looks like you are based in the UK. Not only does this enable you to watch your favorite UK TV, it also keeps your online activity safe and private.
Have you tried using a VPN to watch UK TV? We’d love to hear all about your experiences in the comments below!
FAQ
How can I watch UK TV online?
You can watch UK TV online by using a VPN with UK servers and registering for a streaming service that shows UK TV.
How can I watch UK TV in the USA?
To watch UK TV in the USA, you will simply need to connect to a UK server through your VPN. This will mask your IP address and make it look like you are residing in the UK.
How can I watch UK TV through a VPN?
To watch UK TV through a VPN, find a VPN with UK servers. You can then watch UK TV on your device because your IP address will be changed to the UK by your VPN.
Is it legal to watch UK TV with a VPN?
Yes, it is completely legal to watch UK TV and British TV programs with a VPN.
How can I watch British TV for free?
You can watch British TV for free using a suitable VPN with a free trial. It will grant temporary access to its UK servers, allowing you to unblock any UK streaming service you wish. Meanwhile, completely free VPNs aren’t an option because they typically lack UK servers or simply can’t unblock geo-blocked UK TV websites.
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