How to watch UK TV in Spain: stream British channels in 2024

Many British folks look forward to moving or vacationing in sunny Spain. But once settled in your new Spanish home, you might soon miss your favorite UK television shows and programs. Unfortunately, certain restrictions prevent streaming popular services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, or Channel4 from abroad. Hence, geo-blocking leaves British expats and travelers unable to access the British content they love.

The easiest solution for unlocking UK television overseas is using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It assigns you a UK IP address and encrypts your traffic, routing it through remote UK servers to bypass geo-restrictions. This tricks streaming platforms into thinking you're still in the UK for unrestricted access to your favorite British channels.

In this article, I'll explore the best VPNs and quick ways to access UK TV in Spain right now. Read on to learn how to choose the right VPN for smooth, buffer-free streaming of British television and unlock a world of entertainment abroad.

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Top 5 best VPNs to watch UK TV in Spain

1. NordVPN

   The best VPN to watch UK TV in Spain
   9.8
2. Surfshark VPN

   VPN for UK TV in Spain with unlimited connections
   9.5
3. PrivateVPN

   Budget-friendly VPN for UK TV in Spain
   8.7
4. Proton VPN

   Secure reliable VPN to watch UK TV abroad with massive server fleet
   8.6
5. CyberGhost VPN

   Easy-to-use streaming VPN for UK TV in Spain
   8.9

Why do you need a VPN for UK channels such as BBC iPlayer in Spain?

Moving or traveling to Spain can be exciting, but you might find yourself missing your favorite UK television shows while abroad. However, popular UK streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and UKTV are geo-blocked outside the British soil. As a result, accessing UK channels outside Britain without the most reliable VPNs proves nearly impossible.

This blockade stems from distribution rights and licensing agreements governing content availability in specific regions. Unfortunately, this restrictive approach leaves British expats and travelers unable to stream their favorite programming while in Spain. Since these services determine your location mainly from where you’re connecting, getting a UK IP address is enough to fool them into letting you in.

This is where a VPN comes in. Virtual private networks assign you a virtual UK IP address that tricks streaming platforms into thinking you’re actually in the UK. Such tools also securely encrypt your traffic to protect it from snoopers and bypass ISP throttling. With the right VPN at your side, you can securely and privately watch UK TV just like you would at home.

Best VPN for UK TV in Spain: overview

1. NordVPN – the top VPN to watch UK channels in Spain
2. Surfshark – VPN for UK TV in Spain with limitless connections
3. PrivateVPN – the cheapest VPN to access UK television in Spain
4. Proton VPN – secure VPN to watch UK TV abroad
5. CyberGhost – beginner-friendly VPN to get English TV channels in Spain

If you're looking to access UK TV while in Spain, it can be tough to find the right VPN right away. The ideal service should offer numerous UK servers, jiffy connections, and extra features for an optimal streaming experience.

After extensively evaluating 26 widely-known VPNs, I've narrowed it down to the Top 5 providers for British channels. These VPNs pack extensive UK server networks and everything required to seamlessly stream your favorite UK programs and films from anywhere in Spain.

1. NordVPN – the best VPN for watching UK TV in Spain

NordVPN is the best VPN to watch UK TV in Spain if you're a Brit holidaymaker because it has over 7000 servers in 118+ countries, 440+ of which are in the UK, accessing and streaming the British TV content will be butter smooth. Thanks to the proprietary NordLynx protocol, you'll hardly lose any of your base internet speed.

NordVPN has a stellar record of skirting around geo-blocks on any restricted foreign content. The SmartPlay feature makes it ace for unblocking streaming services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, or Channel 4 from anywhere on the globe. Additionally, NordVPN supports router configuration and Smart DNS, making it easy to use on any entertainment system in your holiday villa.

And best of all, this won't cost you a pretty penny. NordVPN subscriptions are now 74% off if you use any of the freshest discount coupons. Plus, if you're not chuffed with your purchase, you can easily step back with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For a deeper investigation of NordVPN, read our NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark – snappy and affordable VPN for UK channels abroad

Choosing to go for Surfshark is not far from the best decision you can make for watching UK TV in Spain. With over 3200 servers across 100+ countries, including 210+ in 4 major UK cities, Surfshark offers the expansive network needed for smooth streaming outside Britain. It powers connections using the cutting-edge WireGuard protocol and the proprietary Nexus technology for 4K-friendly streaming speeds.

During our tests, Surfshark effortlessly unblocked all top platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, Sky GO, and UKTV from various locations. It also provides easy-to-use applications for all major operating systems as well as router support and SmartDNS for gadgets that do not support VPN directly. And the best part – you get to enjoy Surfshark with unlimited simultaneous connections for all your devices.

Accessing British television while in Spain is easy as pie with Surfshark. Right now, it offers a fantastic 86% discount, but you may even find better deals using available promo codes. Surfshark provides a 7-day mobile trial and a 30-day money-return guarantee for risk-free streaming.

For a deeper investigation of Surfshark VPN, read our Surfshark VPN review.

3. PrivateVPN – affordable VPN to watch UK TV in Spain

PrivateVPN is certainly the top VPN for any budget-conscious Brit trying to bypass geo-restrictions on English television in Spain. This provider offers a modest network of 200+ servers in 63 countries, with 2 locations in the UK: London and Manchester. Moreover, this VPN offers speedy and secure connections for streaming UK TV powered by WireGuard tunneling protocol.

PrivateVPN also has excellent standout features, one being its HQN (High Quality Network) technology that further boosts WireGuard speeds. On top of that, it easily unblocks major streaming services like ITVX and BBC iPlayer in Spain without breaking a sweat. Finally, with PrivateVPN you can use a single subscription with 10 devices, including PCs, smartphones, Android TV, Amazon FireStick, and even your router.

Already being one of the cheapest options on the market, PrivateVPN has some exclusive discount codes to further save up to 85%. Moreover, if you change your mind mid-way through your subscription, cut it short risk-free with the month-long cash-back guarantee.

For a deeper investigation of PrivateVPN, read our PrivateVPN review.

4. ProtonVPN - secure VPN to watch UK TV abroad

Proton VPN is another great pick to get UK TV from Spain. Harbouring impressive 430+ servers in two UK locations (London and Manchester), it smoothly bypasses geo-restrictions imposed by Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, and others. I tested it for ITVX, BBC One, Channel 4, and was positively impressed with connectivity and speeds. My connection was stable at all times and speeds were 86% of the original speed. My only advice is using its VPN Accelerator and WireGuard protocol to land greater speeds.

Another selling point of Proton VPN is its profound security toolkit. Along with AES-256 encryption, It employs robust DNS leak protection and kill switch to prevent your true location leaking. ProtonVPN’s clear logging policy ensures user activity is never monitored and no IP addresses are logged.

It supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. So you won’t be arguing who’s watching what while enjoying your time in Spain. And the streaming platforms choice is much wider than just UK TV, as it easily unblocks Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max too.

Although it’s not the cheapest provider on the market (prices start at $3.59/month), you might use its coupons and deals to snatch a hefty XX% discount. Plus, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and get a refund if it’s lacking for your needs.

For a deeper investigation of Proton VPN, read our Proton VPN review.

5. Cyberghost - beginner-friendly VPN to get English TV channels in Spain

Cyberghost is on my list thanks to its extreme ease-of-use making it an ideal UK TV VPNs for beginners. No need to wade through sophisticated settings and long menus. To watch UK TV from Spain with Cyberghost, you just need to select channels you want to unblock in the VPN client. And ultimately that's it! Cyberghost will automatically connect you to the fastest streaming server in the UK, and you can start watching ITVX, Channel 5, Eurosport, and others.

This service doesn't disappoint when it comes to download speeds either, even on distant servers. During my tests, it retained 82% of the original speed at all times. It supports up to 7 with one account, allowing to secure all devices you're bringing to Spain.

It's a reliable secure option as well thanks to its strong 256-bit AES encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. Plus, it's been independently audited and keeps no logs whatsoever. Among useful extras it has, I'd specifically stress its built-in adblocker and malware-scanning as it might come in handy when using public networks in hotels and resorts.

Cost-wise, it's priced at decent $2.03/month for its long-term plan. And pledges a generous 45-day money-back guarantee if you aren't happy with its offer and performance.

For a deeper investigation of CyberGhost VPN, read our CyberGhost VPN review.

Best VPNs to watch UK TV in Spain: comparison

How I tested the best VPNs for British TV in Spain

Choosing the right VPN for the job is vital if you want to watch English TV channels in Spain and beyond. There's an abundance of providers with UK servers to pick from, which brings us to the most essential VPN criteria.

The ideal VPN needs to offer numerous benefits, most importantly speed, security, and robust unblocking capacities. We weighed in several key factors when reviewing VPNs for streaming British TV abroad, including:

• UK Servers. Global coverage is a crucial statistic you have to check before choosing your UK VPN. In this case, we only chose the services with plenty of UK servers. Nonetheless, the wider worldwide coverage earned extra points.
• Speed. It directly impacts the quality of the viewing experience, while the fastest VPNs ensure smooth playback, minimizing buffering and lag even for high-definition content. Since our main goal is streaming UK TV, I tested the speed of the UK servers each VPN provides.
• Streaming capabilities. Even if your top priority is accessing BBC iPlayer or Channel 4 online, you should not miss out on other streaming services. My chosen streaming VPNs will also unlock the global libraries of Netflix, MAX, or Amazon Prime Video in the future.
• Security & privacy. Leading-edge encryption, a dependable kill switch, and robust DNS leak protections are essential for safely watching UK TV in Spain. We gave extra attention to the VPN services with strict and audited no-logs policies for guaranteed online privacy.
• Compatibility. It's wise to verify a VPN works with your gadgets. PCs and phones are usually covered out of the box, but certain dedicated streaming devices may need a router-compatible VPN.

What UK TV channels can I watch from Spain?

There are quite a few UK TV channels that you can watch online from anywhere on the globe. Major online streaming services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4 let you watch popular UK TV channels from Spain on pretty much all your devices. Some of the most popular options include:

As long as you have an internet connection, you can conveniently access a wide variety of UK content from the comfort of your home in Spain. Most major streaming platforms provide mobile apps and web access, making British programming easily viewable on your devices abroad.

How to watch BBC iPlayer in Spain

BBC is a world-renowned British media network and BBC iPlayer is their online on-demand and live TV streaming platform. Unfortunately, it’s completely locked outside the UK if you don’t use a top VPN for BBC iPlayer while in Spain.

1. Grab a reliable streaming VPN with loads of servers in the UK. My top pick is NordVPN, now 74% off
2. Download and install the VPN app
3. Connect to a UK server
4. Head online to BBC iPlayer
5. Sign in or register your BBC account
6. Watch BBC iPlayer in Spain with no limits!

Access BBC iPlayer worldwide

Keep in mind that, by law, BBC iPlayer requires a UK TV license. If you don’t have an active license yet, be sure to acquire it beforehand.

How to watch Sky Sports from Spain

As of the start of 2021, Sky Sports is off-limits for anyone beyond the UK, including Spain. That is unless you get your hands on a proper VPN for streaming sports to bypass all geo-restrictions. It’s a fast, intuitive, and fool-proof way to unlock most sports streaming platforms, and here’s how to do it:

1. Pick a swift VPN for Sky Sports with tons of UK servers. I highly recommend NordVPN, now 74% off
2. Install the application on the device of your choice
3. Connect to a server in the United Kingdom
4. Go to the Sky Sports website or open the Sky Go app
5. Log in with your Sky account or subscribe to the service
6. Enjoy Sky Sports in Spain and beyond!

Watch Sky Sports anywhere

Can’t access UK channels in Spain with a VPN: solutions

We know that finding BBC iPlayer not working in Spain while you’re trying to relax after a long trip might be super frustrating. Unfortunately, even the most reliable VPNs sometimes face connectivity or speed issues. When problems arise, there are quick troubleshooting steps to try first:

• Switch servers. Streaming sites may blacklist some VPN servers or yours may be overcrowded. Changing to a different server often resolves connection problems.
• Clear cache and cookies. Browser cache and internet cookies store location info that sites use to trace you despite you using a VPN. Wipe the cache, clear the cookies, and try again or try incognito mode.
• Check for leaks. DNS and IP leaks allow sites to bypass VPNs and detect your true location. Run leak tests on ipleak.net or dnsleaktest.com. If your connection is not secure, ensure DNS leak protection is enabled in your VPN.
• Update VPN software. Outdated apps commonly cause unexpected failures. Update or reinstall the VPN for best performance.

If none of the above bears any fruit, there’s still some hope left. All of the top VPNs for UK TV provide 24/7 assistance, so don't hesitate to ask the experts for a helping hand. With some tried and true troubleshooting, you'll be streaming British television from Spain in no time.

Can I use a free VPN in Spain to watch British TV?

When accessing geo-restricted UK channels in Spain, free VPNs may seem appealing at first, but they come with too many downsides for us to recommend them. Free providers simply cannot match the performance and features of premium services optimized for streaming.

The main drawbacks of free VPNs are subpar security, slow speeds, and an inability to reliably bypass geo-blocks. On top of that, most free services log user data, have outdated encryption, and lack essential features like a kill switch. Their crowded servers struggle to deliver stable connections, while limited features fail to unblock platforms like BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Therefore, instead of a costless option, go for a free trial VPN from a premium provider. Additionally, all of our top VPN picks for UK TV in Spain also offer 30-day money-back guarantees. This means you can easily exercise all of the options without locking yourself to the first one on your path. They all offer the same fast speeds, advanced security, and regional unblocking even for the trial periods.

Try NordVPN risk-free

Conclusion

Accessing popular streaming platforms from the UK can be difficult when traveling or living abroad in Spain. Services like BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4, and Sky Go limit their content to only UK IP address owners. Without a British IP, you’ll just face annoying geo-blocks and obnoxious error messages when trying to stream your favorite shows or live TV.

The best way around these restrictions is to arm yourself with a reliable VPN. Top providers, such as NordVPN, can give you a UK IP and hide your true one to bypass location blocks with ease. With robust security, loads of fast UK servers optimized for streaming, and easy-to-use apps, NordVPN provides smooth, buffer-free access to British television from anywhere in Spain.

Have you tried watching UK TV in Spain? Do you have any more tips? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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FAQ

Can I watch any UK TV in Spain?

Yes, you can watch any UK TV show or channel while in Spain. However, most popular UK television streaming platforms are geo-blocked outside the UK. Using a tested VPN solution with UK servers lets you bypass geo-restrictions by tricking the platforms into thinking you're accessing them within the UK.

How do I get English TV channels in Spain?

The most popular UK TV channels are available on live TV platforms, such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4. However, these sites block access when you’re outside the UK. To get English channels in Spain, you'll need a VPN to get a UK IP address, and appear as if you are connecting from within the UK.

How can I get BBC TV in Spain?

BBC TV is available through BBC iPlayer, but it blocks any access outside the UK. To get BBC TV in Spain, use a VPN to connect to a UK server. This assigns you a UK IP address, bypassing the geo-block and allowing you to securely stream BBC iPlayer abroad as if you were in the UK.

Can I watch BBC iPlayer in Spain?

Absolutely, you can watch BBC iPlayer in Spain. However, BBC iPlayer blocks access to the site for anyone outside the UK. Using a VPN to connect to a UK server bypasses these geo-restrictions. This allows you to stream BBC iPlayer in Spain with no limits or hassle.

Can I watch the Premier League in Spain?

Yes, you can watch Premier League football in Spain. The Premier League has a dedicated channel on Sky Sports, but it’s only available in the UK. To watch the Premier League in Spain, you'll need to connect to a UK VPN server and bypass geo-restrictions, allowing you to access Sky Sports from anywhere.

What is the best VPN for watching British TV abroad?

NordVPN is the top choice for watching UK TV worldwide. It has fast UK servers and strong security tools to bypass geo-blocks on BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and more. British expats and travelers can use NordVPN to easily access their favorite British TV no matter which corner of the world they are in.

How do I watch UK TV online in Spain?

You can watch UK TV from Spain, and anywhere else with a VPN. Choose a VPN with UK servers, such as NordVPN, install the app, and connect. In my tests, it masked my IP address, making it appear as if you're browsing from within the UK.