If you’re trying to watch BBC iPlayer while travelling outside the UK, you’re going to run into errors like this, “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues.”
This error is coming up because the BBC doesn’t have the rights to broadcast its content outside the UK.
The good news is there’s an easy way to get around this issue. All you need is a UK IP address, and the easiest way to get one is with a reliable VPN.
This article will show you how to get a reliable VPN that’ll allow you to watch BBC iPlayer when travelling.
See also:
- BBC iPlayer buffering with VPN? (July 2021) Try these EASY fixes!
- BBC iPlayer not working with VPN? Here’s how I FIXED that!
How to watch BBC iPlayer while travelling: Quick Guide
To watch BBC iPlayer while travelling, follow these simple steps:
Total Time: 2 minutes
Create a new account with ExpressVPN ($6.67/month)
Download and install the new VPN app
Select a server in the UK
Watch BBC iPlayer while travelling
Why can’t I watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK?
You can’t watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK because the BBC is blocking your connection.
It does this because it doesn’t have the rights to broadcast its content outside the UK. BBC iPlayer is a UK-based streaming service for UK customers only.
The BBC has made copyright and licensing agreements with its content partners that stipulate it can only show its content in the UK. If it allowed users outside the United Kingdom to access iPlayer’s content, the BBC could be punished with severe financial repercussions.
To prevent this from happening, the BBC blocks anyone outside the UK from accessing its service.
This is why BBC iPlayer isn’t working when you’re travelling.

How does the BBC block my connection?
When you connect to BBC iPlayer, your IP address is sent to the streaming service, where it’s scanned to determine your physical location.
Whenever you go online, your device is given a unique IP address. This IP is used to communicate between your device and the website or app you’re going to, in this case, BBC iPlayer. For this communication to work, your IP address contains information disclosing your physical location.
When the BBC scans your IP address, it can access this information, and if it finds you’re outside the UK, it will block the connection. This is why the “BBC iPlayer only works in the UK. Sorry, it’s due to rights issues” error is coming up.
Can I get around the BBC’s blocks?
To get around these blocks, you need to make BBC iPlayer think you’re watching it from within the UK. Basically, you need a UK IP address.
Reliable VPNs like ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month) make this process easy. All you need to do is download one of these VPNs, connect to a UK server, and you’ll be given a UK IP address.
Now when BBC iPlayer scans your IP, it’ll think you’re in the UK, and you’ll be able to access its content while travelling. It’s that easy!
How do VPNs work?
VPNs give you an anonymous connection, and they allow you to select a location where you want a spoof IP address to be based.
They do this by encrypting all of your online data into an unreadable code, rerouting it through one of their servers (which you can choose), where it is decrypted and sent to a local ISP (internet service provider).
You can select the country where you want your data to be sent. This will give you a spoof IP address from that country.
If you want to watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK, you’ll need a UK IP address. So you’ll want your data to be sent to a VPN server in the UK.
When that happens, not only will you have an anonymous internet connection meaning the BBC cannot determine where you’re based, but you’ll also have an IP address from the UK.

Will any VPN work?
The VPNs that work with BBC iPlayer are the ones that can get around the BBC’s VPN blocking techniques.
The BBC tries to block VPNs because they allow people to watch BBC iPlayer content outside of its broadcast zone (the UK).
The BBC does this using three main techniques:
- The most common technique is to do with the IP addresses that your VPN can provide. VPN providers have more customers than IP addresses; this means that customers are forced to share the same IP addresses. Usually, only a household with a few devices uses the same IP address. When The BBC sees hundreds or even thousands of connections coming through on the same IP address, it knows that it is a VPN and it blocks it.
- The BBC monitors for IP, DNS and WebRTC leaks that can tip the service off you are using a VPN.
- The BBC teams up with GeoIP databases like Maxmind to identify IP addresses. If the IP address your VPN provides is on one of these databases, The BBC will be able to find out where in the world you are connecting to the internet from, and it will block you.
These measures are had for lesser VPNs to get around.
Fortunately, the best VPNs, ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month), have measures in place to stay one step ahead of these blocks. When the BBC blocks an IP address provided by these VPNs, ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) or NordVPN ($3.49/month) will close that IP address and open a new one. This will allow you to watch BBC iPlayer while travelling reliably.
The best VPNs to watch BBC iPlayer while travelling
1. ExpressVPN
The fastest and MOST reliable VPN of 2022

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
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2. NordVPN
A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Pro
- Fast servers
- No logs
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 6-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- No refunds for purchases from iTunes/App store
SPECIAL OFFER – $3.49/month
3. Ivacy
The great low-cost VPN option

Pros
- Fast servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- Dedicated streaming servers
- 5-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 5 devices
- Sometimes runs slow
- Occasionally blocked by streaming sites
SPECIAL OFFER: 7-DAY TRIAL ($0.99)
4. Private Internet Access
The BEST mid-range VPN for streaming!
Pros
- Fast and reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 10-simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Only 48 server locations
SPECIAL OFFER – SAVE 82%!
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5. CyberGhost

Pros
- 1-day free trial
- Reliable servers
- Thousands of IP addresses
- 7-simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Expensive
- Average speed scores
SPECIAL OFFER – 1-DAY FREE TRIAL
30-day money-back guarantee