Best VPNs for UK Expats

Living abroad but craving Strictly Come Dancing or Match of the Day? We know the struggle. These VPNs have UK servers fast enough for HD streaming and actually work with all the major British streaming services — iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and Sky Go.

Last updated: January 2026

Selection Criteria

BBC iPlayer working
ITVX & Channel 4 unblocked
Sky Go compatible
UK servers 80+ Mbps
BritBox access
Top Pick for UK Expats
#1
NordVPN logo

NordVPN

9.8/10

Industry-leading security with blazing fast speeds and an extensive server network.

95 Mbps on 100 Mbps connection (fastest in our tests)Unblocks 15+ Netflix libraries reliablyDouble VPN and Onion over VPN for extra privacy
#2
ExpressVPN logo

ExpressVPN

9.6/10

Premium VPN with exceptional speeds and the best-in-class streaming capabilities.

93 Mbps average speed - near-zero slowdownMost reliable VPN for China (tested quarterly)Unblocks every major streaming platform
#3
Surfshark logo

Surfshark

9.4/10

Budget-friendly VPN with unlimited devices and impressive security features.

Just $1.99/mo - best value in our testsUnlimited devices (protect your whole family)89 Mbps speed - great for 4K streaming
#4
CyberGhost logo

CyberGhost

9.2/10

User-friendly VPN with specialized servers for streaming and torrenting.

10,000+ servers - largest network available45-day money-back guarantee (15 days longer)Dedicated servers labeled by streaming service
#5
ProtonVPN logo

ProtonVPN

8.8/10

Swiss-based VPN from the makers of ProtonMail with strong privacy focus.

Swiss privacy laws - strongest in the worldFree tier with no data limits (3 countries)All apps are open source and audited