Say what you like about the pandemic, but one of the positives it gave us was the time to get to know our bodies better.
Locked indoors with nowhere to go and with only the telly, puzzles and banana bread to stave off boredom, is it any wonder we looked for excitement wherever we could find it?
Namely, the bedroom, and chiefly: sex toys.
Across the board, any retailer selling such pocket rockets watched sales soar as bored Brits looked for ways to spice up their nightlife.
The pandemic may now be in our rearview, but the mania for sex toys appears to have only accelerated. According to Lovehoney's Sex Map 2023, the UK buys more adult toys and accessories than any other country, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US. The global study found that almost all shoppers (9 in 10) have or want to use a toy with a partner, and Londoners bought more than anywhere else in the UK, with sex furniture and position enhancers particular bestsellers.
What was once a furtive purchase in a Soho store backroom has become mainstream.
You can find sex toys everywhere, from online giant Amazon to fashion retailer Nasty Gal. Even Tesco has a finger in this particular pie, selling a range of adult toys from £10, meaning you can pick them up alongside your peaches, bananas and aubergines should the mood strike.
The selection is enormous, from colours, textures, finishes and functions. While today they go hand in hand with getting your freak on, the first vibrator was invented in the 1870s as a medical tool to help all sorts of non-sexual ailments: sore throats, stimulating hair growth, and relief for sore muscles.
There’s no evidence that customers then used them for nocturnal naughtiness back then, but by the time Hitachi started selling its plug-in Magic Wand vibrator (officially marketed as a massager) in the mid-70s, savvy customers were uncovering the mind-blowing benefits for themselves.
There are many pros to getting your rocks off; from better sleep, stress relief, a stronger pelvic floor and of course, the endless mood-boosting benefits - not to mention better self-esteem. It can even make partnered sex without a toy more fulfilling.
Whether you’re new to sex toys or you're seeking shiny new ones to add to your collection, we’ve got the buzz on the best vibrators around.
Prepare to enter a world of pleasure with our edit of the best vibrators worth spending your money on.
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Wanda by Girls Get Off
Easy to use, waterproof and oh-so quiet, it’s no wonder why Wanda from Girls Get Off is the perfect vibrator for beginners. Her 10 modes will get you reaching that big O in no time, and she’s small enough to take with you anywhere for pleasure at any time.
Buy now £63.00, Girls Get Off
Womanizer X Lovehoney Pro40 Rechargeable Clitoral Stimulator
There isn't a woman alive who doesn't need this award-winning clitoral vibrator in her bedside drawer. Thoughts are clearer, spirits are raised, and life, in general, is sweeter when you've got a fully charged Womanizer in your hand.
Using the power of suction, the Womanizer creates orgasmic pulsing stimulation using Pleasure Air Technology, which won't leave you numb, but may render you momentarily blind for a few seconds after its use (in a good way). There are six-speed levels to discover (newbies: start slow and work your way up) and it's waterproof too, so you can take it into the shower or bath for more fun than you've ever had in the tub.
A cult bedroom toy adored by the likes of Lily Allen and countless satisfied customers, we can vouch that it's on the list of items that we'd run, without hesitation, into a burning building to save.
There are many pretenders in the market, but this is the OG. Buy one for yourself, and every woman you know. The world will be a much happier place.
Buy now £74.99, Lovehoney
Womanizer Next Clitoral Suction Stimulator
If the Womanizer has one flaw, it's the racket it makes when you're trying to get to a good place. Not so much an issue if you live alone, but it can be off-putting when you're in bed with a partner or away from home. After listening closely to customer feedback, Womanizer's next generation of vibrators is here - and just in time to celebrate the brand's 10th anniversary, too.
Womanizer Next boasts 14 levels of intensity (with speed as well as depth on the menu), is equipped with a Climax Control feature, and has improved its suction stimulator to help you hit the big O quicker. An Afterglow feature keeps the good vibes going after you've finished without causing pain by overstimulation.
Like its predecessor, Next is rechargeable and waterproof. Yet unlike the OG, it makes no sound whatsoever. Zip, nada. The sweet silence makes relaxing all the easier.
Is it the sex toy to end all sex toys? While it does make vast improvements on a legendary product, the nozzle has lost its length, and to its detriment. Still, for the silence it delivers, it's golden.
Available in mint, black and purple.
Buy now £189.99, Lovehoney
Ann Summers Rampant Rabbit The Aqua One
The Rabbit is probably the best-known vibrator, shaped like the sweet, fuzzy animal from which it takes its name and propelled to pop culture stardom when it was namechecked in one episode of Sex and the City.
Made in 1983 by Vibratex, the vibrators were designed like bunnies in order to bypass Japan's obscenity laws (they made beaver, kangaroo and turtle-shaped devices too, which sadly, weren’t as popular) and were the trailblazers in bringing internal and external components to sex toys.
It has remained a bedside favourite thanks to its multi-tasking abilities (the rabbit ears for clitoral stimulation while the shaft aims for the G-spot) and there have been several offspring since the original Rabbit Pearl, which had a rotating bead section, to the Rampant Rabbit, initially made for an Ann Summers party.
The Aqua version of the Rampant Rabbit is made from soft, non-porous silicone (making it far more hygienic) and can be used in water. There are three speeds to enjoy alongside two vibrating pulse settings, aimed at achieving blended orgasms.
It does need batteries, although that does mean zero time waiting for it to charge up. Choose rechargeable batteries if you're worried about the environmental impact.
Buy now £34.99, Amazon
Wireless Wand Massager by Oliver James
Modelled on Hitachi's original wand massager, this device stays true to the script in that it's marketed as a 'portable sports neck massager'. However, the reviews tell quite a different story: "Got the wife screaming like a banshee. Exactly what I wanted it for. Top banana!" was one short but sweet piece of feedback, while another revealed "She’s fallen in love with this pink wand and has kicked me out, moved the wand in and they’re now living their best life."
Charging is via USB and noise-wise, it sounds like a razor - not super loud, but certainly noticeable. Something to keep in mind if you don’t live alone.
Not only does this baby offer 20 vibration patterns and eight speeds but it has a memory function too, which means a repeat performance is just a click away. What's not to love?
Buy now £23.00, Amazon
Satisfyer Triple Lover - Pink
As sexual health technology evolves, makers are adding more bells and whistles to adult toys.
Satisfyer is leading the charge with this triple thrill toy that unites a 2 in 1 vibrator - designed to hit below waist erogenous zones with a wand attachment on the opposing end. Adventurous sorts can use all three at once, while newbies might want to try each one independently to find their groove. Each 'arm' comes equipped with its own motor.
It's stacked with vibration modes (24 in total) and is a compact thing, which means you never have to leave it at home when you're going on a trip. Waterproof and USB rechargeable.
Buy now £68.03, Amazon
Lovehoney Indulge G-Spot and Clitoral Suction Stimulator
Want a vibrator that can do it all? This twofer device will transform your solo or foreplay with its ability to offer vibration and suction at the same time. “The first time I used it I had tears of joy running down my face from the pure pleasure” explains one happy customer. “It absolutely blows your head off”, reveals another.
Combining everything you may know and love of models like the Womanizer with the traditional vibrator, there are seven levels of suction and 10 vibrations (three speeds and seven pulsations) so you can choose the intensity level to suit.
Best paired with lube and it’s USB rechargeable too. Sadly, this one isn’t waterproof so keep your play on dry land.
Buy now £69.99, Lovehoney
LELO 8 Function G-Spot Massager - GIGI 2
“I bought this vibrator a month ago and have fallen in love with it” and “Never disappointed with any of our purchases from LELO, the GG 2 is perfectly designed especially with the broad head” are just two standout reviews from past customers on this gizmo.
Made from smooth, easy-clean silicone, the sculpted curved design offers a perfect fit for a range of people and there are eight powerful vibration settings to work your way through. It’s even waterproof to a depth of one metre, giving you more playtime options.
USB charged and comes with a one-year warranty and 10-year quality guarantee for total peace of mind.
Buy now £71.40, Boots
Lovehoney Ignite 20 Function G-Spot Vibrator
This is the Bank Holiday of the vibrator world: a universally adored toy to anyone who takes the plunge and adds to their virtual basket – and this is due to the sheer versatility of the thing.
There are a whopping 20 functions, no doubt one of the most comprehensive on the market and yet it remains a compact device, complete with a travel lock and storage bag so you can take it with you on trips.
There are not only three different speeds but 17 vibration patterns with varying oscillations to suit all. You will likely find your favourite and stick to it but you’ll have a lot of fun in the process trying them all out. Hold the button to turn off – a quick option in case of unexpected interruption.
For ease in holding, there is even a finger loop, which makes it great for beginners or incorporating into partner play. It is handily also waterproof, charges up by USB and is made from a soft silicone.
Buy now £32.99, Lovehoney
Ohhcean
Feel good and do good with this revolutionary sex toy brand, made by recycling pieces of sea-bound plastic.
Ohhcean guarantees waves of pleasure with its marine-hued products, made from discarded plastic and wrapped in body-friendly silicone. There are three toys made for playtime, from the Magic Wand (£64.99), to the G-spot Vibrator (£44.99) and the Body Vibrator (£34.99).
Each offer seven levels of good vibrations and are ideal for using alone or with a friend.
Buy now, Ohhcean
Coco de Mer Pleasure Collection
Famed for its luxe lingerie, Coco de Mer has snuck into the world of adult toys, and they’re as devastatingly chic as you’d expect. The range includes candles and lubes that promise to enhance playtime and of course, the toys.
There are five to ogle: The Seed (£145), an external stimulator with ten levels of vibrations; The Dual Vibrator (£116), designed to hit multiple erogenous spots; The G Spot (£108), an internal stimulator with 10 settings; The Remote Egg (£145), a small gizmo which works on different areas; and The Wand (£135), made from body-safe silky-soft silicone with 10 settings.
They come exquisitely packaged ready for gifting to someone special or just to enjoy all on your own.
Buy now, Cult Beauty
Smile Makers - The Surfer
The name says it all. This simple but effective device is sure to put a Cheshire cat-sized smile on your chops.
The orange-coloured device couldn’t be easier to use: there’s a simple on/off button on the base which also amends the speed and offers an option for pulsation. It has a super soft skin-like feel, and has just the subtle embellishment of grooves that sit on the clitoris.
Best of all, it’s ultra-quiet so is a great option if you have housemates. It’s also waterproof so you can maximise your alone time when you’re in the bath or shower. Power up with just one AAA battery.
Buy now £19.95, lookfantastic
Durex Play Delight Mini Vibrating Bullet
A pocket-sized bullet of pleasure made for adventures outside of the bedroom, Durex’s waterproof toy is the perfect partner to take on trips away. It’s super quiet and can run for five hours straight if you’re planning a marathon session. Perfect to use solo or with a partner, the simple on/off switch means you can get down to business faster than before. A great product at an even better price.
Buy now £10.49, Superdrug
Lelo Soraya 2 vibrator
Lelo’s Soraya 2 vibrator has five-star ratings across the board, and for good reason. Crafted specifically for double stimulation - both clitoral and vaginal - the rabbit-style Soraya 2 will give you the double orgasm of dreams.
Lelo has also made its second iteration of the Soraya softer and more flexible. Need we say anymore?
Buy now £159.19, Lelo
Nasty Gal Rechargeable 1 Function Rose Sucker
When Shakespeare penned the world famous line "A rose by any other name..." we don't think the Bard ever imagined it would one day turn into this. Offering theatrical levels of ecstasy, this silicone Rose in a deep red hue is ready to rock your world.
The device is designed for external use. Where other vibrators try to spin multiple plates, the Rose has just one job, which it performs rather well: suction. The on/off button is well-placed and it's discreet-looking enough to leave out on your bedside table. Ideal for those just beginning their sex toy journey.
Buy now £35.00, Nasty Gal
