How to Watch UK TV Abroad with a Fire Stick and NordVPN
If you have ever tried to watch BBC iPlayer, ITVX or Channel 4 while on holiday, you may have discovered that many UK streaming services do not work abroad.
After years of travelling as a family, we have found a very simple solution: we travel with our Amazon Fire TV Stick and use NordVPN to access the services we already subscribe to at home.
Whether we are travelling to Spain, Portugal, France, the United States or anywhere else in the world, this simple setup allows us to watch UK TV abroad using the services we already subscribe to at home.
In fact, before every trip my husband simply unplugs the Fire Stick from our sitting room television, throws it into his hand luggage and off we go.
Can you watch UK TV abroad?
Yes, but many UK streaming services are restricted when you are outside the UK.
Our setup is very simple:
- Amazon Fire TV Stick
- NordVPN
- The Wi-Fi wherever we are staying
Once the Fire Stick is connected to the television and Wi-Fi, we open NordVPN, select the UK and then use our usual apps as we would at home.
How we watch BBC iPlayer abroad
One of the main reasons we travel with the Fire Stick is to watch BBC iPlayer abroad, as well as other UK streaming services we already use at home.
The process is very straightforward. We connect the Fire Stick to the TV, connect to Wi-Fi, open NordVPN, select the UK and then open BBC iPlayer as usual.
It is one of those small travel habits that makes life easier, especially when travelling as a family.
Why we travel with a Fire Stick
We do not go on holiday to sit in front of the television.
But there are moments when having something familiar is incredibly useful.
A rainy afternoon. A long travel day. An early evening after a full day at the beach. Wimbledon. Formula 1. BBC News. Or simply something familiar for our little one before bed.
We have used this setup everywhere from weekend city breaks to longer stays in Spain and it has never let us down.
It makes a hotel room or holiday rental feel a little more like home.
Which Fire Stick should you buy for travel?
We use the standard Amazon Fire TV Stick.
There are newer and more expensive versions available, but this is the one we have used successfully for years and it is more than enough for what we need when travelling.
If you already own a Fire Stick, you can simply take that one with you. That is exactly what we do.
But I can definitely see the appeal of having a dedicated travel Fire Stick that lives permanently in your hand luggage or travel drawer.
Why we use NordVPN
We have used NordVPN for years and it has become part of our normal travel routine.
It is installed on our phones, laptops and Fire Stick, and we use it for a variety of reasons, including online safety, shopping abroad and accessing the services we already subscribe to at home.
Using it is very simple: open the app, select the UK and connect.
That is what allows us to watch UK TV abroad through the apps we already use.
What can you watch?
Depending on your subscriptions and accounts, you may be able to use apps such as:
- BBC iPlayer
- ITVX
- Channel 4
- Channel 5
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Prime Video
- Apple TV+
- NOW
For us, it is less about watching hours of television and more about having the option when we want it.
Is it worth taking a Fire Stick on holiday?
For us, absolutely.
It weighs next to nothing, takes up almost no space and has earned its place on every packing list.
There are plenty of travel gadgets we have bought over the years and quietly abandoned.
Our Fire Stick is not one of them.
If we are travelling, chances are it is coming with us.
If you enjoy practical travel ideas, you may also like my post on airplane activities for toddlers and children, my guide to 20 city breaks in Europe and my travel hacks that genuinely make travelling easier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take an Amazon Fire Stick in hand luggage?
Yes. We always travel with ours in hand luggage and have never had any issues.
Can I use a Fire Stick abroad?
Yes. You can use a Fire Stick abroad as long as the television has an HDMI port and you have access to Wi-Fi.
Can I use a Fire Stick in a hotel?
Usually, yes. You need an available HDMI port on the television and Wi-Fi access.
Can I watch BBC iPlayer abroad?
BBC iPlayer is normally restricted outside the UK. We use NordVPN to connect via the UK before using our usual services.
Is the standard Fire Stick enough for travel?
For us, yes. We use the standard Amazon Fire TV Stick and it does everything we need when travelling.
Should I buy a separate Fire Stick for travel?
You do not need to, but it may be convenient. We currently unplug ours from the living room television before every trip, but having one permanently ready to travel would make life even easier.
