A virtual private network (VPN) is an essential tool in the UK today. If you have traveled abroad, it will enable you to access geo-blocked in other countries, such as Netflix US, and local sites like BBC iPlayer. The VPN will also protect your data and activities from third parties such as the government, your ISP, and hackers.
In 2016, the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) came into effect, which legalized the surveillance of UK citizens. It allowed the government to snoop on your messages, phone calls, emails, and even online activities.
On top of that, there are strict laws that prohibit copyright infringement. You risk up to ten years in jail if you are caught downloading or sharing copyrighted material. That is why we insist that using a VPN in the UK is necessary.
This guide has compiled the best VPNs for the UK, the benefits of using a VPN, factors to consider when choosing a UK VPN, and much more.
A quick summary of the top 5 UK VPNs
- ExpressVPN – Offers good speeds, robust security, and privacy, unblock geo-blocked content and services.
- NordVPN – Our number one recommended VPN for the UK. Fastest VPN servers, advanced security and privacy features, and impressive unblocking capability.
- Private Internet Access (PIA) – Multiple servers in the UK, allows up to ten connections simultaneously, effective ad-blocker.
- Surfshark – Budget-friendly, emphasis on privacy, fast speed servers, 30-day money-back guarantee.
- PrivateVPN – User-friendly apps, incredible download speeds, operates several UK servers, robust security.
Easy steps to get a UK IP address
- Get a well-established VPN. We recommend ExpressVPN as it boasts many UK servers, robust security, and impressive unblocking capabilities.
- Download and install the VPN on your device or router.
- Launch the VPN app.
- Connect to UK servers and access the content, apps, or services you want.
Best VPNs for the United Kingdom
Due to the huge number of VPNs on the market, choosing the best service is a bit hard. We tested over 40 providers to determine which works well in the UK.
Below is our list of the ten best VPNs you can use in the UK today:
1. ExpressVPN

Well-known for its security features, ExpressVPN also excels at offering a diversified server network, that also includes many UK locations.










Pros
- Stealth privacy features
- Strong security
- Does not store logs
Cons
- A bit expensive plans
ExpressVPN is an all-around ideal VPN for the UK. It offers feature-filled apps for all devices, unblocks streaming services, and is excellent at torrenting and gaming.
The VPN operates a network of over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. It has several servers in 4 UK locations, including London, Wembley, East London, and Docklands. With this expansive server network, you will likely get a server closer to your location for better speeds.
Does ExpressVPN bypass geo-blocks? Yes, and it is one of the best VPNs to unblock geo-blocked content and services. The VPN has several servers in the US, which is great if you would like to access Netflix US. It also unblocks other popular streaming services such as Hulu, Amazon Prime Videos, Disney+, and more. You will be able to stream in HD as the servers are pretty fast.
Since ExpressVPN offers fast speeds, your gameplay will be remarkable. It will manage to maintain data-intensive games like Fortnite without any buffering or lags while gaming. You will be able to play in high definition and keep up with your fellow teammates.
The best part is that it allows P2P sharing across its entire server network. Since it does not cap its bandwidth and data, you can torrent completely unrestricted.
Using the Smart Location feature connects you to the fastest server available. We tested it, and our normal speeds dropped by only 3%, which is impressive. The speeds will remain steady even if you connect to international servers like the US.
ExpressVPN uses top-tier AES 256-bit encryption to maintain your security by encrypting the internet traffic. What does this mean? One key is used to encrypt and decrypt your data, making it almost impossible to break. Just like NordVPN, it braces the encryption with SHA-512 HMAC authentication and a 4096-bit RSA key.