PSN has been having a lot of issues lately (there's a scheduled maintenance... hopefully things will improve?).
https://support.us.playstation.com/a...7/~/psn-status

https://support.us.playstation.com/a...tail/a_id/2185
4/21/14 PSN Connectivity Issues

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4/21/14 PSN Connectivity Issues
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[PlayStation®Network] Updated 04/21/2014

The PlayStation Network is currently:

Offline

In order to continue to deliver you the best online games experience, we will be performing maintenance on:

Start: Monday, April 21, 2014 9:50 AM PT
End: Monday, April 21, 2014 3:50 PM PT

During this maintenance period, you may receive a message that states “Sony Entertainment Network is undergoing maintenance” when attempting to access the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Home.

PS4 users will not be able to view the What's New, Live, and Library areas of their console. Share functions will be impacted as well.

We will update you with any changes that may occur in regards to this scheduled maintenance. If you would like to receive a notice when PSN is fully restored, be sure to follow the official PlayStation Twitter account and our support Twitter account, @AskPlayStation.
The UK has been pretty fubar during peak times, and the North East as well in the US ,as well as Southern California and around the Great Lakes area. You're relying on that in the background somehow, so could be part of the problem. PSN is monitored by the downdetector.com site, as well as other services (including some internet service providers)... might want to see if you can spot any issues close to or in your area and pester the appropriate support channels if you spot something with either your ISP or PSN there. The company pages will sometimes have links to twitter, facebook, or the support sites for a company on their overview pages:

http://downdetector.com/companies
http://downdetector.com/status/playstation-network/map/
http://downdetector.com/status/playstation-network

http://www.twitter.com/PlayStation
http://www.facebook.com/PlayStationN...N/255566080783