A creeping sense of dread pervades the 2025 instalment of the "A Ghost Story for Christmas", a 30-minute adaptation of E. F. Benson's short horror story from 1912. For 15 years, Roger Winstanley (Tobias Menzies) has been terrorized by the same dream: a night spent alone in the titular room in the tower of his friend's country estate. Little did he know that he was envisaging his fate.
Here’s how to watch “A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower” online from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for FREE.
“A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower” premieres on Wednesday, December 24.
► Time: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. GMT / 9 a.m. AEDT (Thu.)
• FREE STREAM — BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk free
“The Room in the Tower” is Mark Gatiss' eighth consecutive entry in the franchise, and he's put a small twist on the source material by shifting the setting to the Second World War. It's during a 1944 air raid that Roger meets Verity (Nancy Carroll), an amiable Women's Royal Naval Service officer, with whom he shares his nightmare.
Ever since he was a boy, it's always been the same. A house, an unhappy family gathered silently on the lawn, and the unseen abomination hidden out of sight in the tower. And Roger would swear that the passing years have weathered each and every member of the family.
When he accepts an invitation from a friend, it's to his horror that Roger finds himself confronted by his most deepseated fear, a waking nightmare underpinned by Julia Stone (Joanna Lumley) the matriarch whose nightly visits have left an indelible mark.
Read on as we explain how to watch "A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower" for free and from anywhere.
How to watch 'A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower' for FREE in the U.K.
How to watch 'A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower' from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the "Ghost Story for Christmas" 2025 special on your usual service?
You can still watch “The Room in the Tower” thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they're back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market:
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're in the U.S. but want to view your free BBC coverage, you'd select a U.K. server from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head over to BBC iPlayer and enjoy!
Can I watch 'A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower' in the U.S.?
In the U.S., previous "A Ghost Story for Christmas" instalments have made their way to Britbox, but there's been no word yet on when "The Room in the Tower" will hit the streamer.
If you're currently on holiday across the pond from the U.K., one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN, will help tap into your home coverage of the Christmas special.
Can I watch 'A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower' in Canada?
There are currently no known plans to broadcast "A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower" in Canada.
If you're a Brit currently in the Great White North for work or on vacation, you can still catch the festive special by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
Can I watch 'A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower' in Australia?
At the time of writing there's no sign of "A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower" in any listings in Australia.
Anybody currently Down Under from the U.K. can use one of the best VPN services to access their usual streaming service. We recommend NordVPN thanks to its speed, reliability and trusted security features.
'A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower' cast
- Joanna Lumley as Julia Stone
- Tobias Menzies as Roger Winstanley
- Nancy Carroll as Verity
- Ben Mansfield as John Clinton
- Polly Walker
More from Tom's Guide
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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