How to Choose and Set up a VPN for BBC iPlayer: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you looking to watch your favorite UK shows from BBC iPlayer while traveling? Unfortunately, due to licensing agreements and geo-blocking, you need to be located in the UK to use the BBC iPlayer. But there is a solution. With a VPN for BBC iPlayer, you can easily switch your online location and watch your favorite British gems from anywhere in the world. We’ll walk you through how to set it up, so you can start streaming in no time. Let’s get started!

VeePN Research Lab

May 19, 2023

8 min read

How to Choose and Set up a VPN for BBC iPlayer: A Comprehensive Guide

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How to choose the best BBC iPlayer VPN

A VPN gives you a new IP address and protects all your data with modern encryption methods. But there are many providers out there, so how do you choose the one?

Keep these things in mind when choosing a VPN for watching BBC iPlayer:

🌎 UK servers. To access BBC iPlayer from abroad, you need a UK IP address. That’s why you should look for a UK VPN — the one that offers multiple British server locations. Enter VeePN — a reliable and easy-to-use VPN with server locations in London, Gloucester, and Manchester .
💻 Supported platforms. Make sure the VPN provider supports all your devices so that you can watch BBC iPlayer however you’d like. For example, you can run VeePN on any desktop or mobile device, tablet, browser, smart TV, and even a router. And 1 account lets you use VeePN on up to 10 devices at the same time.
📺 Streaming features. Check for novel VPN protocols like WireGuard® designed for speed. VeePN provides one along with locations optimized specifically for streaming, which include the UK, US, Australia, Germany, France, and others. All that you could stream with no lags or limits in your way.
🚀 Best price. Compare the features and value for money among providers. Consider a provider with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it out before committing to a long-term payment. Avoid free VPNs since they have limited functionality (no UK servers may be available, for example) and poor security.

This is what makes a great BBC iPlayer VPN. Just like that — get access to all the streaming services with VeePN and watch your favorite content even when away from home.

How to watch BBC iPlayer in USA (or any other country) with a VPN

Now onto the details. Here’s how to use a VPN for BBC iPlayer.

Get a VPN to get access to BBC iPlayer. Give VeePN a go and get up to 85% off to stream without hitches.

Note: All VeePN subscription plans are backed up by a money-back guarantee so you can try the service risk-free.

Download a VPN on your device and follow installation instructions.
Open the app and log in.
Scroll down the server list. Choose one of the British locations.

How to watch BBC iPlayer in USA with a VPN: Choose a UK server

Click Connect on the main screen and wait for the VPN connection to turn on. You should now have a UK IP address.

How to watch BBC iPlayer in USA with a VPN: Click Connect

Go to BBC iPlayer’s website and log in or sign up. You may need to refresh your browser before going to the website.

How to watch BBC iPlayer in USA (or any other country) with a VPN: Go to BBC iPlayer with a new UK IP address

Grab your favorite snacks and enjoy watching BBC with a VPN!

Disclaimer: VeePN does not promote, condone, or encourage using a VPN in ways that would potentially violate Terms of Service of streaming service providers. For more details, please read the VeePN Terms of Service.

To stream BBC iPlayer quickly, you can also get a VPN Chrome extension for BBC iPlayer. But keep in mind that it’ll only work on a browser level. And to watch BBC iPlayer on all devices connected to your Wi-Fi network, consider connecting a VPN to a router. Read our article to learn how to install VeePN on your router.

Note: BBC iPlayer not working with a VPN? Troubleshoot your VPN connection with these steps.

Best BBC shows to watch in 2023: Our top 9 picks

So now that you know how to watch BBC shows in the USA and countries around the globe, let’s see what hits you can stream in 2023 on iPlayer (besides BBC now-classics like Sherlock or Top Gear, of course).

Doctor Who

📺 Stream in November 2023
🎥 Genre: Science fiction, adventure, drama
⭐️ IMDb rating: 8.4

Doctor Who is turning 60 in 2023, but it shows no signs of ageing. Actually, fans of the show are in for a treat this year. David Tennant, the 14th Doctor, will be returning for three specials in November, accompanied by Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble. Then, in the Christmas special, Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) is set to take over as the 15th Doctor, with Millie Gibson as his companion Ruby Sunday. Add in the return of Russell T. Davies as a showrunner, and you are to experience utter sci-fi perfection.

Peaky Blinders

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Crime drama, historical fiction
⭐️ IMDb rating: 8.8

A fan of crime dramas? You don’t want to miss Peaky Blinders then. Set in post-World War I Birmingham, the series follows the Shelby family (led by Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby) as they navigate the dangerous world of illegal activities. With top-notch acting, immersive cinematography, and a gripping storyline, all 6 seasons of Peaky Blinders are available for streaming on iPlayer.

Happy Valley

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Crime drama, police procedural
⭐️ IMDb rating: 8.5

For a thrilling police drama, look no further than Happy Valley. The show follows police sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) as she tries to maintain order in a small town in West Yorkshire while haunted by a traumatic event from her past. Three-season Happy Valley stands out for its stunning setting, clever writing, convincing characters, complex relationships, and an excellent cast.

Normal People

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Psychological drama, romance
⭐️ IMDb rating: 8.4

Looking for a romantic drama that will tug at your heartstrings? Check out Normal People. Adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, the show explores the the on/off relationship between Marianne and Connell, two young people from different backgrounds. This beautifully made series is a powerful and raw story of intimacy, affection, power dynamics, class divisions, and money.

This Is Going to Hurt

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Comedy, medical drama
⭐️ IMDb rating: 8.4

How about a dramedy about junior doctor in his chaotic Ob-Gyn job at a UK public hospital? Based on the bestselling memoir of the same name, 7-episode This Is Going To Hurt is like a more serious version of Scrubs, with a well-struck balance between the funny and tragic.

Fleabag

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Comedy-drama
⭐️ IMDb rating: 8.7

If coping mechanism through humor was a show, it’d be Fleabag. Backdropped in London’s modern world, this 12-episode dark British comedy delves into the bleak reality of a woman striving to rebuild her life while grappling with challenging themes like death, grief, and dysfunctional relationships. The series stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge as the titular character, based on her one-woman show from 2013.

Luther

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Crime drama, police procedural, psychological thriller
⭐️ IMDb rating: 8.4

Another thrilling crime drama? Count us in! Five-season Luther follows the genius and deeply troubled Detective John Luther (Idris Elba), as he tackles some of London’s most heinous crimes. With its dark and gritty atmosphere, Luther promises to keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

The Tourist

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Drama, thriller
⭐️ IMDb rating: 7

In this gripping limited series, Jamie Dornan plays a man who lost his memory and tries to outrun his past. All while someone wants him dead. No biggie. Now one of the biggest BBC dramas, The Tourist was renewed for a second season in 2022.

Chloe

📺 Stream now
🎥 Genre: Psychological thriller
⭐️ IMDb rating: 6.6

Many thrillers have explored the dangers of social media, but few have anchored the story as well as this recent BBC production. What may seem like a predictable stalking story, Chloe turns into an engaging thriller that may take some unexpected turns.

VPN for watching BBC iPlayer: Bottom line

So there’s that. Want to access plenty of brilliant TV shows, movies, live news and sporting coverage on BBC iPlayer but find yourself out of the UK? Using a VPN for BBC iPlayer will get the job done. However, you can’t just choose any VPN to watch iPlayer — the platform has a strong anti-VPN system, so you’ll need the best VPN to bypass it.

Here’s your easy and affordable fix — use VeePN with BBC iPlayer to stream to your heart’s content. Get a smooth streaming experience with no data or speed caps and avoid annoying Internet throttling. Pick a VPN price plan and test out the service risk-free with a money-back guarantee. Travel and stream as much as you want. Just like that.

FAQ: VPN for BBC iPlayer

Yes, you can use a VPN for watching BBC iPlayer. BBC iPlayer is only available to users in the UK. However, while you’re traveling outside the UK, you can connect to a UK server and get a UK IP address by using a VPN. This will let you access BBC iPlayer as if you were in the UK. Learn more in our blog post.

Unfortunately, no free VPNs work consistently with BBC iPlayer. BBC iPlayer has a strong anti-VPN system that makes it difficult for VPNs to bypass their geographic restrictions. Free VPNs usually have a limited number of servers and poor protection measures in place. Also, they might not have enough bandwidth to support streaming video. Hence, it’s better to use a paid VPN service to get access to BBC iPlayer. Find our tips on how to choose a VPN for BBC iPlayer in this blog post.

Yes, if you travel, you can watch BBC iPlayer in the USA by using a VPN. It’ll give you a UK IP address, so you can access BBC iPlayer from the USA or any other country as if you were in the UK. Learn more in our article.

Sure thing — VeePN provides instant access to your favorite streaming services, including BBC iPlayer. So if you want to access your favorite British shows when abroad without coming across any proxy error message, subscribe to VeePN and stream lag-free. Find a step-by-step guide on how to use VPN for watching BBC iPlayer in this article.