There are different ways to arrange a funeral. It might be traditional, something quite personal, a short service at a crematorium or a cremation without a ceremony.
We’ll explain what’s possible, what things cost and what we can do to help. You don’t need to have it all worked out before getting in touch.
Tell us what you have in mind, or ask us where to begin. We’ll explain the options and help you work out what might suit you best.
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Compare the options below, including what each price covers. If you’re unsure which approach would suit you, we’ll help you decide.
From a traditional church or crematorium service to a funeral somewhere unexpected. We can help you choose the setting, shape the ceremony and make the arrangements.
The coffin, cremation or burial fees, vehicles and other choices are charged separately. We’ll put together a full estimate.
A shorter, attended crematorium funeral at an early morning time. You can listen to music, share a few words, sit together quietly or simply be there.
At Beckenham Crematorium at 9.30am, with people you know carrying the coffin.
£3,470 with four professional pallbearers.
Our Discovery hearse and a funeral director on the day are included. Collection supplements are explained below.
A cremation at Honor Oak without a funeral service or anyone attending. We care for the person who has died in Forest Hill, and the ashes can be collected from us afterwards.
The total is £2,225 when the £250 collection supplement applies. See the collection details below.
The Simple Morning Funeral and Direct Cremation prices include a coffin and cremation. The Tailored Funeral price is our professional fee, with your chosen services and third-party costs added.
Collection and care: Simple Morning Funeral and Direct Cremation include collection from a hospital or coroner’s facilities within the M25 and up to 21 days of care. Collection from a private residence, nursing or care home, or a hospice without mortuary facilities adds £250. For Direct Cremation, the supplement also applies to other locations requiring immediate collection. Additional care costs £18 a day from day 22.
You don’t need to choose a service before speaking to us. This is simply a way to see how they differ.
| Tailored Funeral | Simple Morning Funeral | Direct Cremation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can you attend? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Where does it take place? | A crematorium, church, burial ground or another venue you choose | Beckenham or Hither Green at 9.30am; Honor Oak at 10am or 10.30am | Honor Oak Crematorium, without a service |
| Music, readings or a ceremony? | As much or as little as you wish | Approximately 20 minutes in the chapel, to use as you wish | No ceremony at the crematorium |
| How do the costs work? | £2,600 professional fee, plus your chosen services and third-party costs | From £3,150 in total at Beckenham, including a jute coffin and cremation, with people you know carrying. £3,470 with four professional pallbearers. | £1,975 including a simple coffin and cremation. £2,225 if the £250 collection supplement applies. |
All three include arranging the necessary paperwork and caring for the person who has died. We can explain exactly what is included in whichever service you're considering.
Here is how the £3,150 starting total is made up, for a 9.30am funeral at Beckenham with a jute coffin and people you know carrying it.
Our Discovery hearse and a funeral director attending the funeral are included. People you know may carry the coffin with our guidance, provided it is safe to do so.
Every price below includes our funeral fee, a jute coffin and the cremation fee.
| Crematorium | People you know carrying | Four professional pallbearers |
|---|---|---|
| Beckenham9.30am | £3,150 | £3,470 |
| Honor Oak10am or 10.30am | £3,200.10 | £3,520.10 |
| Hither Green9.30am | £3,219.58 | £3,539.58 |
Four professional pallbearers cost £320. If six are needed, they cost £480, adding £160 to the totals in the final column. We’ll confirm the number needed with you.
If the £250 collection supplement applies, the Beckenham total is £3,400 with people you know carrying, or £3,720 with four professional pallbearers. The supplement applies to collection from a private residence, nursing or care home, or a hospice without mortuary facilities.
A different coffin, a celebrant or minister, flowers, printed orders of service, livestreaming and other optional choices cost extra. Care beyond the first 21 days is £18 a day from day 22. We’ll include the choices and any additional charges in your written estimate.
We'll begin by listening to what matters to you and explaining the possibilities. You might have very definite ideas, or none at all.
Our funeral directors can help you find a venue, bring together the people involved and look after the practical arrangements. We’ll take care of the details right through to the day itself, whether you’re arranging an attended funeral or a direct cremation.
We're based in Forest Hill and arrange funerals across London. Visits to our funeral home are by appointment only. You can also talk to us by telephone or video call.
Come and talk to us →We also arrange funerals for babies and children, and help people think about their own funeral wishes in advance. These are different conversations, and we’ll make time for either.
We can support you after a pregnancy loss, stillbirth or the death of a baby or child. We’ll talk about what you want, explain the possibilities and give you the time you need.
Find out more →Perhaps you’d like to leave some guidance about your wishes. Our free guide helps you think through the options and record the things that matter to you, without needing to make every decision.
Explore planning ahead →Find the setting that feels right, from a crematorium chapel to a woodland burial ground or an entirely different venue.
From simple wooden designs to willow, wool, cardboard and colourful coffins.
Browse coffins →Traditional hearses, discreet transport, horses and other possibilities.
Explore vehicles →Seasonal funeral flowers, music, orders of service and other ways to make it personal.
Explore your choices →No. Tell us what you're considering, or tell us that you're not sure. We can explain the differences and help you work out what you need.
Not at all. It can be very traditional and simple, or involve something more unusual. Tailored means we can help you make your own choices about what the funeral includes.
Yes. Depending on the venue and the kind of funeral, you can choose how to use the time. We can talk about music, readings, silence and other possibilities. There is no requirement to include a celebrant just because you're having an attended service.
At Beckenham Crematorium at 9.30am, the total starts at £3,150. This includes our £1,950 funeral fee, the £850 cremation fee and a £350 jute coffin, with people you know carrying it. With four professional pallbearers, the total is £3,470. If the £250 collection supplement applies, these totals become £3,400 and £3,720 respectively. Other coffin choices, optional extras and care beyond 21 days are additional. See the totals at each crematorium.
We'll give you an itemised estimate for the arrangements you are considering. That includes our charges and the third-party costs we know about, such as crematorium or burial fees. If anything changes, we'll explain the difference.
Please tell us. We can talk through simpler options and explain the costs. Our examples of funeral costs show how different choices add up. You can also read about possible government support.
Before making arrangements, you can review our published price lists, terms of business, disclosure of interests and local crematorium information in one place.