CBD is already a booming industry in the USA, with millions of users now using products such as CBD oils to manage pain and other symptoms. However, right across the globe, the CBD market in the United Kingdom has been steadily rising, with over 1.3 million reported CBD users.
With the growing popularity and interest, it’s no wonder why so many companies are trying to get in on the explosion of the UK’s CBD market.
While there’s no end of lotions, balms, oils, edibles, capsules and vape liquids available to choose from, there are a ton of brands and products that don’t deserve a second look. Wading through the many brands on your own, however, is an overwhelming task, to say the least.
When choosing a quality brand and product, there are a few things to take into consideration. Is there a third-party lab result showing how much CBD is in the oil? What part of the world did the hemp come from? Was the CBD extracted safely?
On our list, you’ll find some of the best CBD oil the UK has to offer, based on effectiveness, quality, safety and overall value.
But first, is CBD oil legal in the UK?
CBD that is made from hemp plants is 100% legal.
As long as it contains less than 0.2% THC, you can buy and use it to improve your health or manage medical conditions.
It is illegal for individuals to grow or produce it though.
The 10 best CBD oils in the UK
1. Blessed CBD (#1 CBD oil UK) 
After seeing the UK CBD marketed flooded with subpar products that didn’t work at all or didn’t work very well, this company threw its hat into the ring to provide UK residents with high-quality CBD oil.
You immediately get a sense that CBD means a lot to this family-operated business. Blessed CBD dedicates itself to spreading the word to the public about what CBD oil is really about and the health benefits it has on your body and overall well-being.
Available in 500mg, 1000mg and 1800mg, Blessed CBD has one of the most effective and potent CBD oils in the UK market. The 1000mg and 1800mg strengths are strong enough to handle chronic and severe symptoms and the 500mg is a great one for beginners and those with mild pain.
Starting with organic hemp grown in Colorado, their hemp strains are proprietary blends crammed with CBD, guaranteeing the most effective oil.
We were honestly impressed. And it wasn’t just us. Blessed CBD has been voted the best CBD oil in the UK by various respectable organisations such as Mirror, HerbMighty, Improb, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine and Readers Digest.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Third-party lab results available online
- Free next day shipping in the UK
- Hundreds of 5-star customer reviews (see here)
- Top notch filtration and extraction processes
- Consistent quality, purity and effectiveness due to small batch production
Why you might want to pass:
- Small batches create waitlists and customers must wait until new batches are ready for distribution
Click here to visit BlessedCBD.co.uk
2. CBD Pure
This American company is pretty international thanks to its superior quality CBD products. CBD Pure has a huge range of products that both pros and beginners can enjoy easy, with thousands of satisfied customers backing their brand.
Known for always pushing the envelope, their innovation is known around the world and has produced some truly amazing products. CBD Pure is one of the very first companies in the industry and one of the few to have a founder so open and happy to be accountable for the products the company produces.
The only downside is the shipping. As they are located in the USA, delivery to the UK can take up to 2 weeks. But it’s worth the wait.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Products that are all very high in quality
- Safe extraction process that uses no chemicals whatsoever
Why you might want to pass:
- Shipping to the UK can take up to 2 weeks
Click here to visit CBDPure.com
3. Holistic Hemp Scotland
This Scotland-based company grows their own hemp on small artisan farms, using a bio-dynamic process that excludes the use of pesticides, herbicides and other artificial fertilisers.
They show their dedication to products that are organic and healthy through their harvesting process. Instead of bulk-harvesting hemp with cutting machines, which is what most companies do, Holistic Hemp handpicks their hemp flowers and individually hangs them to dry naturally.
Holistic Hemp uses the subcritical CO2 extraction process, which uses low heat and pressure, as opposed to the more popular supercritical one that uses high heat and pressure.
The oil produced still contains flavonoids, terpenes and a full spectrum of cannabinoids to get that amazing entourage effect.
Besides CBD oil, they also sell paste, dab wax and capsules.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- A fantastic tasting paste that is also pretty unique
- Safe extraction process that uses no chemicals whatsoever
Why you might want to pass:
- It can be hard to measure the appropriate dosage when using the dabs or paste
4. PureKana
This American company rounds out our list because they have an office in Watford, ship their entire product range to the UK for prices that are reasonable and, if we can be honest, their oil is that good.
Based in California, PureKana is one of the top US CBD brands and an established leader in the industry. Though it can be difficult to find reliable, quality products in the UK CBD market, PureKana offers that and their presence is more than welcome.
UK customers have access to an effective oil that has no herbicides, solves, chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Take advantage.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Full spectrum line of products
- Uses CO2 extraction process – the gold standard of removing CBD from hemp
- Organic hemp is European certified
Why you might want to pass:
- More expensive than other brands
- Slow delivery, even with the office in the UK
5. Provacan CBD
Highly respected, Provacan is associated with advanced cannabis research. Their oil is one of the best in the CBD oil UK market, has a very loyal customer base and is supported by scientific research.
Available in 300mg, 600mg and 1200mg, it is very strong. One drop of oil contains a massive 3mg of CBD, with one dose or two doses being more than enough for severe and chronic pain.
Though Provacan could tout their research to validate their oil, they aren’t that kind of company. They have a highly controlled production process that ensures the highest standards are met when it comes to the quality of the oil.
Customers never have to worry if they’re getting the real deal or not when buying from the company.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Boosted terpenes provide an enhanced entourage effect in full spectrum oil
- Dosing is easy, at 3mg per drop
- Strong and effective
- A brand that is very popular and well respected within the industry
Why you might want to pass:
- Raw, unflavoured taste will not be everyone’s favourite
- Only one size is available, regardless of strength
6. Love Hemp
With Love Hemp, fans of vaping will really enjoy the best e-liquids in the country. Known for their packaging along with the quality of their products, what will really get your attention is the large variety of flavours you can choose from. Get ready to argue over which is better: Custard Cream, Mary Jane or Blueberry Menthol.
Vaping CBD is one of the quickest ways to introduce the compound into your bloodstream. You’ll feel the effects quickly, but this method isn’t for everyone. Only try Love Hemp if you’re interested in the best of the best in terms of vaping.
Sold in 100mg and 200mg, both are pretty low in strength, making it great for beginners but those who are more experienced may want a stronger e-liquid than you’ll find in their product range.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Great products to begin vaping
- Variety of flavours, all of which are very good
- Full spectrum
Why you might want to pass:
- No versatility of e-liquid; used solely for vaping and cannot be used topically or sublingually
- Lack of customer feedback
- Low strength
7. Hempura
Hempura is responsible for making CBD the UK can be proud of. Not only do they produce some of the highest quality oil you’ll find in the country, but they are also one of the very few companies associated with the Cannabis Trades Association (CTA).
Available in 3 strengths – 250mg, 500mg and 1000mg – all oils are full spectrum and free of pesticides. Due to a proprietary ultrafiltration process, each bottle contains highly active cannabinoids. After bottling is complete, Hempura puts their batches through rigorous screening and provides lab reports for each and every batch.
Dedicated to customer care and transparency, this is a brand that you can trust.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Full spectrum oil for an extremely beneficial entourage effect
- Ultra-filtration process provides the best and most active CBD compounds
- Vegan and gluten-free
Why you might want to pass:
- Only offers unflavoured oils
- 10ml bottles are the only size available
8. CBD Life UK
This fan favourite has a place in the hearts of many due to its high-quality products and high levels of customer satisfaction. They are also a member of the Cannabis Trades Association and leads by example with their mission to “make the world a better place.”
The hemp oil spray they produce provides quick pain and symptom relief. Each spritz contains 5mg of CBD with a dosage containing 3-4 sprays daily. Higher concentrations are recommended for people with severe or chronic medical conditions.
Their oil is pure thanks to a CO2 extraction process and fast-acting thanks to the carrier oil, MCT.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Fast-acting spray (and tinctures) that enters the bloodstream quickly
- Full spectrum oil that provides the entourage effect
- Use of MCT oil as a carrier oil which helps improve brain function and energy levels, boost the immune system, balance hormone levels and contains essential omega fatty acids.
- The spray provides convenient and accurate dosage at 5mg per spray
Why you might want to pass:
- It can be hard to measure the appropriate dosage when using the dabs or paste
- Few reviews
9. Aura CBD
For the best CBD oil the UK has to offer, there certainly are a lot of US brands on this list – and here is another.
Aura has a very strong presence in the CBD UK market considering it is a California-based company. A well-respected brand, they have first-rate CBD oil drops and also offer powerful edibles, skincare products and pastes.
What sets Aura apart from other companies is the range of potencies you can choose from. If you haven’t been able to find products that work for your price range, that ends with Aura. You are sure to find a product no matter your budget, they make sure of it, offering combo packs across every product range.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Online discount codes are always available to save money on almost every product
- Large range of products, potencies and products
- Third-party lab testing and reports for every product are available on their site
Why you might want to pass:
- Information detailing the servings contained within each bottle is missing, making it hard to know the overall value
10. Love CBD
Located in Suffolk, Love CBD is a small, family-operated business that happens to be one of the UK’s largest CBD sellers. They have a special technique of growing cannabis strain combinations in various climates, which they claim enhances the compound’s effectiveness.
The oil they make comes in the form of a full spectrum spray that contains a wide range of cannabinoids and terpenes. It is very strong – just one spritz of this spray delivers a massive 16mg of CBD! The high strength makes it ideal for experienced users and novices and can help with a number of health issues, including anxiety, sleep and pain.
Reasons to give them a chance:
- Very effective for a wide range of medical conditions
- The spray makes dosing easy and convenient
- Lactose-free and vegan-friendly
- Full spectrum
Why you might want to pass:
- Raw taste will not appeal to everyone
- Not 100% organic, would be nice if they used organically grown hemp
- The spray is the only product they sell
Buying CBD oils in the UK
If you are new to CBD oil, looking at a list of the best CBD oil the UK has doesn’t help you understand the CBD or the industry any better. It can be confusing and overwhelming and questions about proper dosages or which brand works better for what symptoms are common.
Every brand on this list is highly recommended, but choose one of the top 2 (Blessed CBD and CBD Pure) if you aren’t certain what you need. They will most likely be able to help you manage your symptoms if you have any and will definitely improve your overall health and well-being. You will love at least one brand.
We’d love to hear about your shopping and delivery experience of any brand you choose on the list.
CBD oil UK – buyer’s guide
Hopefully, some of those questions in your head have been answered, but for those that are still lingering, please read through our FAQs to learn more about CBD, what it is, how it works and the many benefits it can provide.
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a chemical compound, called a cannabinoid, which occurs naturally in hemp plants. There are many cannabinoids found in hemp, but CBD is the most plentiful, with hemp extract containing over 40% CBD.
Any CBD products made from hemp must contain 0.2% THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or less and will not have mind-altering effects. Hemp-extracted oil will be full spectrum or a crystalline isolate.
Full spectrum CBD contains additional cannabinoids such as CBG, CBC and CBN along with terpenes, minerals, proteins, vitamins and essential fats. The individual properties of these compounds are therapeutic on their own, but when combined work together to magnify the benefits and effects of each other. Known as the entourage effect, this is an advantage to your body.
CBD isolate comes in the form of powder and is the purest form of CBD. It has no THC and is 99% CBD. It is versatile and can be added to drinks, food or mixed into oil and administered orally.
How to choose high-quality CBD oil
Due to the newness of the CBD industry, many people interested in trying CBD feel overwhelmed with all of the information and don’t understand what to details to search for when looking for top-quality CBD products.
Look at these factors to ensure you spend your money products that will be safe and effective.
- Hemp sourcing
It’s vital that brands source clean hemp that has been grown using the best practices. This is because hemp will naturally absorb the toxins from the surrounding environment. Need to know information includes the location the hemp was cultivated. Some places like the EU and Colorado have strict procedures, while other places have less oversight and may use methods that result in contaminated hemp, which can be harmful.
Hemp that is organic, contains no metals, pesticides or minerals is going to make the best oil.
- Extraction method
When looking for quality CBD oil, the extraction method used to remove CBD is one of the key things to consider. You can find this information by looking at the company website. Unfortunately, this won’t always be true and deeper research will sometimes be required. You can also contact a company’s customer service directly.
The extraction process used by a company is vital and seriously influences an oil’s levels of quality and purity, which goes plays a huge role in how effective it is overall.
A supercritical CO2 process is the best extraction method. It requires a lot more skill and is more expensive, which is a reason many companies choose to avoid it. Get in the habit of trying to purchase CBD products from companies that use CO2 extraction, though it may not be supercritical. Any brand worth buying from is one that invests the time into doing things the right way.
- Independent lab testing & results
Typically, transparency is an accurate indicator of honesty, particularly in an industry where disclosing details is not required. Manufacturers of superior oil are going to be willing to share the techniques and components they use with their customers.
Companies that prioritize consumer safety will use third-party labs to test their oils. Testing confirms the cannabinoid content, which is to say how much CBD is in the oil and the levels of other cannabinoids in the oil if it is full spectrum. Another thing lab reports confirm is the level of THC and the presence of chemicals or contaminants.
Manufacturers want you to see the results with your own eyes. This allows you to verify their claims and feel confident when purchasing their product. Looking at lab results ensures you get what you pay for.
The results of some of the highest quality CBD products have:
- high concentrations of CBD
- minimal contaminants and impurities
- legal amounts of THC
You should make it a priority to look at lab reports, but a brand’s readiness to display their test results is an encouraging sign. However, be wary that there are some brands that have expired results posted on their websites.
Usually, this data is located on the website. If you cannot find it, contact them directly and ask for it. Most are willing to send over requested information because they want to be transparent. If a company puts up a fight when you ask for information, consider buying from someone else.
- Full spectrum/whole plant
Full spectrum oils (you may see this labelled as whole plant oils), are produced from the complete hemp plant and contain not only CBD but multiple cannabinoids. These oils have other useful compounds such as flavonoids and terpenes that provide an additional boost of healthiness to your body’s system.
Product labels should clearly tell you if the oil is full spectrum. Can’t find this information on the bottle? Look for it on the company site or go straight to the manufacturer or their customer service department and ask.
If a brand isn’t providing you with the information you need to make educated buying choices, it should always make you think twice before buying.
Benefits of using CBD oil
CBD oil has the capability of positively impacting many aspects of your life. For example, it can ease pain and anxiety, which leads to more restful nights and longer sleep.
CBD oil makes a good alternative to synthetic medication for people who have the disorders and conditions below:
- Chronic Pain: CBD oil, working in tandem with endocannabinoids (the body’s natural cannabinoids), works as a food supplement for medical issues such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis, both of which are known to cause chronic pain. CBD oil also effectively increases adenosine, a neurotransmitter found in the brain that reduces painful inflammation.
- REM Behavior Disorder (RBD): Characterized by physical agitation and shouting/acting out behaviors while sleep, this disorder is usually a symptom of a more serious condition. CBD oil reduces symptoms associated with RBD and eases the pain and anxiety of disorders that can cause RBD.
- Anxiety & Depression: CBD oil can reduce the symptoms of both anxiety and depression by activating serotonin receptors in the brain. When released, the serotonin’s soothing effects aid in improving a person’s sleep and rest.
- Insomnia: After using CBD oil, those who suffer from insomnia due to constant pain and discomfort will see improvements in their symptoms. In small amounts, CBD oil can be used throughout the day as it promotes alertness and is also a good pick-me-up alternative to sugary energy drinks if excessive tiredness due to a lack of sleep has become an issue.
- Epilepsy: People with rare forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut, are prescribed CBD oil for their symptoms. CBD oil also has had great success preventing seizures as well as decreasing the severity and number of seizures that occur.
- Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia symptoms and other disorders that cause mind-altering effects can be diminished through CBD oil’s antipsychotic effects.
Though many people use CBD to manage a variety of medical issues, it can be taken as a natural supplement to enhance your overall health and quality of life, which aids in prevention.
A natural alternative to traditional medicine, the benefits of CBD oil are even more appealing because it has some pretty incredible qualities. It is:
- Non-addictive
- Non-psychoactive
- Non-toxic
- Little to no side effects (when proper dosages are taken)
Note that more extensive research needs to be done on CBD oil’s benefits to determine the extent of its effectiveness.
How is CBD extracted from hemp?
CBD can be removed from hemp plants in a few different ways. Some methods are safer than others and will yield an oil that is higher quality and more potent.
- CO2 Extraction: By using high pressured carbon dioxide, this method isolates, preserves and maintains the purity of CBD. To use this method, a high level of skill is needed along with sophisticated equipment. It is costly but is the best and safest method. Oils created using this method may be more expensive, but knowing a product is free of toxins and high quality is probably worth it.
- Solvent Extraction: After the plant is saturated in a solvent, like grain alcohol, butane, propane or ethanol, the solvent is dissolved. What’s left behind is CBD hemp oil. Avoid companies that use propane or butane – both chemicals are toxic to humans. Ethanol (the higher the grade the better) is the safest solvent to use for this technique.
Where does CBD come from?
CBD comes from hemp and cannabis plants.
Where a brand’s hemp comes from is important because all companies do not use the same quality of hemp. Hemp that is not food-grade and is grown under questionable conditions, results in chemicals and lead becoming ingredients in the oil.
Stay safe and buy from companies that source EU hemp. The EU has strict regulations that ensure a high-quality harvest of hemp. Trusted brands are quick to mention the source of their hemp.
Where can you buy CBD oil in the UK?
Due to CBD oil’s current popularity, it is easier than ever to find it. It is even normal to see it sold in high street health stores and supermarkets.
There is a lot of variation in the quality of CBD products sold in retail stores and it is easy to purchase an oil or edible that just doesn’t work if you don’t know what to look for. Some of these lower quality CBD products have low amounts of CBD, are so watered down that the CBD has no actual benefits or contain no CBD whatsoever.
Going to a retail store to buy CBD is a toss-up, but if you do it ask for help from an employee prior to buying anything. If you want to get your hands on the best CBD oil in the UK, try our #1 rated CBD brand: Blessed CBD. They can’t be found in stores but can be purchased only online. They are a reliable, transparent family-run brand who prioritize consumer safety and health.
Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.