6 of the Best CBD Oils You Can Find in the UK

What Is CBD?

CBD (short for cannabidiol) is the main non-psychoactive cannabinoid in Cannabis plants. It is usually extracted from industrial hemp plants, a variety of Cannabis naturally low in  tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), the raw form of CBD, is converted to cannabidiol during extraction.

CBD interacts with the endocannabinoid system, which impacts mood, memory, pain management, and inflammation. Because CBD products do not cause the high associated with THC, hemp extracts with a THC content of 0.02 percent or less are now legal in the UK. CBD is considered a novel food, meaning a food supplement that’s recently become popular.

Interesting research about the potential benefits of CBD has been published in the last few years. CBD users should, however, know that CBD companies aren’t allowed to make health claims about cannabidiol. People interested in using CBD oil or other cannabidiol products should consult a healthcare professional.

Three forms of CBD exist:

• Full-spectrum CBD products contain a range of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. They may have a THC content of up to 0.02 percent. Some consumers believe cannabinoids work best in combination, a theory called the entourage effect. They often look for full-spectrum products.
• Broad-spectrum CBD products have terpenes and flavonoids, but they are almost completely THC-free.
• CBD isolate products are pure CBD in a carrier oil like MCT oil, coconut oil, or hemp oil.

What Makes CBD Oil So Special?

The UK CBD industry is thriving, and consumers have access to an ever-expanding range of exciting and innovative CBD products. They include CBD vapes, CBD skin care products (topicals) like creams, balms, and salves, and CBD oil tinctures. Edibles like CBD gummies, energy bars, and chocolates are also becoming increasingly popular.

In this vast ocean of CBD product options, “good old CBD oil” may seem like a boring choice to some. CBD oil has some unique benefits, though:

• CBD oil is a fast-acting option with a high bioavailability when held under the tongue for around a minute.
• CBD oil is versatile — you can cook with it!
• CBD oil drops give you flexibility in deciding the right dose.

How We Chose Our Winners

We understand how confusing shopping for the highest quality CBD oil can be in the UK. Hopefully, this list makes your wellness journey a little more straightforward.

In addition to making sure each of our top picks offers value for money, we evaluated these critical quality factors:

• High-quality hemp plants. Only CBD companies committed to organic farming practices (no herbicides and pesticides, non-GMO) earned themselves a spot on this list.
• Quality extraction methods. Clean CBD hemp extracts are created using supercritical CO2 extraction or solvent extraction with olive. Brands using extraction processes like butane and hexane, which leave contaminants behind, aren’t on our list.
• Third-party lab results. CBD users can check a cannabidiol product’s potency and purity only if the company opts for independent lab testing. Third-party lab testing is one of the hallmarks of a premium CBD brand.
• Diverse CBD concentrations. Our list includes brands using CBD isolate, broad-spectrum CBD, and full-spectrum products with varying strengths.
• Stellar service. We combed through customer reviews to ensure only CBD companies who put their buyers first made it onto the list.

A Detailed Look at the Best CBD Oils in the UK

Blessed CBD

The founders behind Blessed CBD rejoiced when CBD was legalized in the UK in 2017. However, they soon discovered that the UK market lacked quality products with reliable, verified manufacturing processes, and they were frustrated by slow shipping when ordering from the USA.

Blessed CBD was born of a desire to create the highest quality CBD oil on the UK market, and the UK CBD company does a stellar job! The organic hemp plants that go into their CBD come from the USA and EU, and Blessed CBD follows good manufacturing practices.

Blessed CBD uses supercritical CBD extraction, gives CBD users insights into their third-party lab results, and has non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan certifications. Blessed CBD’s hemp CBD oil is among the most affordable options on the UK market despite the love and care that goes into their broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD.

The amount of CBD in Blessed CBD’s product ranges from 500 mg to 1800 mg per 10 ml bottle. While Blessed CBD’s broad-spectrum CBD oil has a rich cannabinoid profile, including CBG, CBDa, and CBGa, it is THC-free.

Vibes CBD

Vibes CBD is another top pick for UK CBD consumers who don’t want to break the bank to gain access to high-quality CBD oil. This British CBD company sources high-quality organic hemp and creates premium CBD products using the supercritical CO2 extraction method.

The fruit-flavored broad-spectrum CBD oil drops Vibes CBD sells have concentrations of 1000 mg or 2000 mg per 10 ml bottle. These broad-spectrum CBD oil drops with natural terpenes and no THC are shipped with convenient droppers for easy dosing.

Vibes CBD also makes premium CBD gummies and CBD capsules and offers free express delivery to British CBD enthusiasts.

Excite CBD

Excite CBD is a UK-based CBD company that sources organic hemp plants globally and makes quality CBD oil in Britain. Excite CBD’s hemp extract products are third-party lab tested, allowing customers to verify potency and purity, and the amount of CBD in their CBD oil products ranges from 5 to 40 percent.

This company is another excellent choice for any British CBD user looking for high-quality non-GMO cannabidiol oil that includes minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBC for that entourage effect. Excite CBD offers THC-free products that don’t have any psychoactive effects.

TRIP CBD

TRIP CBD offers CBD oil made in the UK with sustainable hemp plants and exclusively vegan ingredients. Their product range may not be suitable for experienced CBD consumers looking for a higher amount of CBD. All their CBD oil products have a modest 300 mg per bottle.

However, TRIP does have a unique selling point that makes it a top pick within the UK market. TRIP’s CBD oils contain herbal formulations specifically designed to help consumers soothe difficulties like anxiety and muscle pain.

Love Hemp

UK CBD enthusiasts are usually willing to shop online, but some people prefer to pick their CBD oil products up from major retailers like Boots, Holland & Barrett, and Tesco. If that’s you, Love Hemp is unquestionably your best bet.

This UK-based CBD company is passionate about providing consumers with THC-free hemp extracts made with the highest quality, organically grown hemp plants.

Love Hemp’s CBD oil drops have strengths from 2 to 20 percent per 30 ml with convenient droppers. If you’d like to try other broad-spectrum CBD products, the company also makes CBD gummies, capsules, and skincare products.

Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web is a CBD company with a long history of making excellent full-spectrum products. It’s not at the bottom of the list because we have anything bad to say about Charlotte’s Web, but because it’s a USA-based CBD company.

Charlotte’s Web makes excellent products with strong formulations, and their flavors include chocolate and lemon.

Buying the Best Rated CBD Oil in the UK

As CBD products continue to rise in popularity in the UK, more consumers specifically look for high-quality CBD oil made in the UK.

Britain’s strict regulations regarding cannabidiol and other novel food products explain why the UK market remains less developed than the American market. However, we have lots of great options!

To recap, first-time CBD users in the UK who are passionate about quality will want to look for CBD companies that:

• Use hemp extracts made from organically-farmed hemp and extracted with responsible methods like supercritical CO2 extraction or olive oil extraction.
• Subject their CBD isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum products to independent lab tests.
• Offer non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free products (if you need them).
• Have a proven track record backed up by good customer reviews.

In addition, you’ll want to look at the price, form of CBD, and flavoring (if desired).

We’d advise first-time consumers to start with a low dose of CBD oil under the tongue and to work their way up gradually until they experience the desired effect. The best CBD oil drops in the UK come with handy droppers that make precise dosing a piece of cake.

Disclaimer: You’ve reached the end of this buyer's guide, an initiative between NutraHolistics, a distinguished health and wellness supplement retailer in the Netherlands, and Nathalia Hoedjes, a nutritionist and health/wellness author. Each product within this guide has been put through a test by Nathalia herself to ensure honest feedback. We would like to clarify that NutraHolistics may receive a commission for any products mentioned in this guide, presently or in the future. If you are considering using CBD and have any doubts or questions, we firmly advise you to engage with a healthcare professional or your doctor. For any questions, you may reach out to NutraHolistics.