Virgin Media M250 Fibre Broadband is a 264Mbps download / 25Mbps upload plan on Virgin’s own network. On the current exclusive deal it costs the same as M125. That is the whole decision for most homes: take 250Mbps, not 125Mbps, unless the cheaper plan is actually cheaper at checkout.
Buy M250 if
- two to four people stream, work and game on the same evening
- the postcode checker shows Virgin cable or Virgin/Nexfibre full fibre
- M125 is the same price this week
Skip M250 if
- you are not in a Virgin street — this plan does not exist on Openreach
- you upload large files every day and a symmetrical altnet is on the building
- M500 or Gig1 is only a few pounds more and you want a faster plan
| Plan | Speed | Deal |
|---|---|---|
| M250 Fibre Broadband Most families 24-month contract | 264Mbps down 25Mbps up | £18.99/month £22.99 from Apr 2027, £26.99 from Apr 2028 Free setup See deal |
M250 at a glance
| Average download / upload | 264Mbps / 25Mbps |
| Typical minimum download (to the hub) | about 132Mbps — your figure is on the order |
| Network | Virgin cable (DOCSIS 3.1) or Virgin/Nexfibre full fibre where built |
| Router | Hub 5 (Wi-Fi 6) on most new orders |
| Contract | 24 months |
| Setup | Free on the exclusive broadband-only deal |
| Price | See Deal column |
| Extra on selected partner deals | Switching credit — amount on checkout |
| Optional | Volt (O2), WiFi Max, Flex TV, landline |
“Fibre Broadband” is Virgin’s product name. On many streets the last stretch is still coaxial cable. Full fibre at the same speed mainly changes upload options and the install. The checkout screen says which network you are on.
For the wider range and whether Virgin is the right provider at all, see the Virgin Media broadband review.
M250 cost over 24 months
The first monthly price in the Deal column is the opening rate, not what you pay for the full contract.
A 24-month Virgin deal taken now includes two April rises. Setup on this exclusive broadband-only deal is in the Deal column. Switching credit only comes off the total if the checker confirms it for your address.
Use the calculator for the contract total and the effective monthly cost. Copy the prices from the Deal column. Set the first bill month to when you will start. Add credit only if you will receive it.
Contract cost calculator
Virgin rises in April. Change the prices if your checkout shows different figures. Credit only counts if you will actually receive it.
Do nothing after month 24 and the out-of-contract price is much higher. To avoid that, recontract with Virgin before the term ends, or switch using One Touch Switch. Existing customers see a different upgrade price in My Virgin Media. This deal is for new customers.
Is M250 enough — or should you take another plan?
Take M250 when several people are online at once: two 4K streams, a games console, video calls and phones in the background. 264Mbps is enough for that. You will not feel 500Mbps in a browser.
Do not take M125 at the same price. You only gain 5Mbps of upload and you give away half the download. If M125 is cheaper at your address, it still suits one or two light users.
Look at M500 or Gig1 if the house downloads large games most weeks, or if 25Mbps upload is already a problem. Compare those deals with M250 in the tables on those pages. Gig1 is the first Virgin plan where upload stops being the weak point. Gig2 is only worth opening if the checker offers 2Gb and you will use it.
M350 is usually the plan to ignore while it sits above M500.
M250 speeds: Ethernet vs Wi-Fi
Virgin’s 264Mbps average is a peak-time figure to the hub. At least half of customers on the plan should see that on a wired test between 8pm and 10pm.
The speed guarantee is lower — typically around 132Mbps to the hub. If Ethernet tests stay under the figure on your contract and Virgin does not fix it, you can leave. Wi-Fi results do not trigger that right.
Test this way:
- Plug a laptop into the hub with Ethernet.
- Run the test in the evening.
- Only then walk the house on Wi-Fi.
The Virgin Media Hub 5 is Wi-Fi 6 and is fine for 264Mbps in a small or mid-size home. Two brick walls will still cut the number. WiFi Max is a paid extra (sometimes included with Volt). It promises a set speed in every room, or bill credit if Virgin misses that figure. It does not promise the full 264Mbps in every room. Pods, ports and older hubs are covered on the router page.
Upload is 25Mbps on cable M250. Two video calls at once are fine. A 4K stream out, a cloud backup and a call together will queue. Some full-fibre Virgin addresses can buy a faster-upload add-on. If that box is not on your order, assume 25Mbps.
M250 vs BT, Sky and a local altnet
Same sort of speed band. Different line.
| M250 | BT / Sky / Plusnet ~300Mbps | Altnet ~250–300Mbps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download | 264Mbps | often 300Mbps | often 300Mbps, sometimes symmetric |
| Upload | 25Mbps | about 30–50Mbps on Openreach full fibre | often equal to download |
| Price this week | See Deal column | Usually higher | Varies |
| Coverage | Virgin streets only | most of the UK on some product | build areas |
M250 wins when Virgin is at the door and you want the lowest national price for a fast download. It loses when you care about upload or you are not on the Virgin map. Do not order it “to try” on an Openreach-only street.
Leaving, moving or staying
- 14 days to cancel a new order for any reason.
- After that: 30 days’ notice, then an early-exit charge if you are still inside 24 months.
- One Touch Switch handles most moves to another provider.
- Moving house only works if Virgin serves the new address. If it does not, you can still owe the old contract. Ask before you exchange.
- April rises are in the terms. They are not a surprise.
How Virgin handles complaints and cancellations sits on the Virgin Media review.
Volt, WiFi Max and TV
None of this is required for M250.
Volt is for homes that already pay for O2. It can include WiFi Max and other extras. Price the O2 side as well as the broadband.
Flex TV is a rolling add-on. Mega TV is the bigger package. Add either only after the broadband-only total still looks right. The cheap M250 offer is the broadband-only deal. Channel lists and bundle maths are on Virgin Media broadband and TV.
How M250 is installed
On an existing Virgin cable street this is often a self-install: hub, coax, done.
New full fibre or a first-time Virgin tap needs an engineer. You cannot choose cable vs full fibre. The address decides.
Virgin covers about three in five UK premises. A neighbour with Virgin is a clue, not a guarantee.
Virgin Media M250 FAQs
How much is M250 over 24 months?
Use the calculator above with the figures from the Deal column. Credit reduces the total only if you get it.
M125 or M250 if both cost the same?
M250. Same bill, double the download. See the M125 review only if that plan is cheaper at your address.
Is 25Mbps upload enough for working from home?
Yes for calls, VPNs and sending documents. No if you upload video daily or several people send large files at the same time. Then look at Gig1 or a symmetrical altnet.
Why is Wi-Fi slower than 264Mbps?
264Mbps and the 132Mbps guarantee are Ethernet-to-hub figures. Test with a cable before you raise a fault. Kit limits are on the router page.
What download speed does Virgin guarantee on M250?
Usually about 132Mbps to the hub. The exact number is on your order.
Can I leave M250 early?
Cooling-off first, then notice plus an exit fee for the rest of the term. Get the figure in writing. Out-of-contract prices are much higher if you stay and do nothing.
M250 is the Virgin plan to start with this week: same money as M125, enough speed for a normal busy home, and only a short step below M500 and Gig1 if those deals stay this close. Check the address. If Virgin is not there, stop.
