Faced with arranging a farewell in the UK, many families find the traditional route too costly, too stressful, or simply not a good fit for the person they loved. You may be working to a tight budget, wanting something more personal, or hoping for a greener choice. Add time pressure, paperwork and plenty of jargon, and it’s hard to know where to start—especially if you’d prefer a simple, dignified approach without a full service at a crematorium.
This guide brings clarity. We set out eight practical alternatives to a conventional funeral in the UK, explaining what each option involves, the pros and cons, typical costs, how to arrange them step by step, and who they’re best for. You’ll find plain‑English guidance on direct cremation, family‑led funerals, celebration‑of‑life memorials, humanist or non‑religious ceremonies, woodland or natural burials, water cremation (where available), DIY funerals, and donating your body to medical science. Whether you need to make decisions today or you’re planning ahead, you’ll leave with a clear sense of your choices and the next steps to take—so you can honour a life in a way that feels right for you, your family and your budget.
1. Direct cremation with Go Direct Cremations
Direct cremation is a simple, unattended cremation with no service at the crematorium. Go Direct Cremations handles everything practical—24/7 collection anywhere in mainland England, Scotland or Wales, all paperwork guidance, respectful washing and preparation, an eco‑friendly coffin, and cremation at trusted facilities. Ashes can be personally delivered to you or scattered in a garden of remembrance. It’s one of the most popular funeral alternatives in the UK, giving families time and space to plan a separate farewell later.
What it is
A dignified, no‑ceremony cremation. There’s no procession, no chapel time, and no mourners present. The provider takes your loved one into care, completes the legal formalities with you, carries out the cremation, and returns (or scatters) the ashes so you can hold a memorial or celebration of life in your own way.
Pros and cons
For many families, the balance of simplicity, cost and flexibility works well—but it isn’t right for everyone.
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Lower stress: Fewer decisions at a difficult time; paperwork support included.
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Cost‑effective: Strips out venue, procession and service costs.
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Flexible farewell: Hold a memorial later, anywhere that feels meaningful.
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Nationwide, 24/7 care: Swift collection and professional facilities.
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Greener footprint: No embalming service and an eco‑friendly coffin.
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No attended service: Some families miss a formal ceremony at the crematorium.
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Extras can apply: Urgent home collection, medical device removal, larger coffin or premium urns add cost.
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Not ideal if you want burial or religious rites at the crematorium.
Typical UK costs
Direct cremation commonly starts from around £1,299 with national providers, compared with the UK average basic funeral at £4,285 (SunLife Cost of Dying 2025). That’s about a 69% saving when compared to a traditional funeral at headline prices. With Go Direct Cremations, the base price is clear, with transparent add‑ons only for specific needs (for example urgent home collection, medical device removal, larger coffin or designer urns).
How to arrange
The process is straightforward and quick when needed.
- Call 24/7 to begin arrangements and authorise collection.
- Share details for the cremation paperwork; you’ll be guided step‑by‑step.
- Collection and care in professional mortuary facilities; washing and preparation included.
- Cremation at a trusted crematorium using an eco‑friendly coffin.
- Choose ashes option: personal delivery to your door or dignified scattering in a garden of remembrance.
- Plan your memorial (e.g., a celebration of life) on your own timetable.
Who it’s best for
- Budget‑conscious families wanting a dignified, low‑cost farewell.
- Those who prefer simplicity over ceremony and time pressure.
- People planning a separate memorial that’s personal, non‑traditional or outdoors.
- Eco‑minded families and those needing nationwide, 24/7 support or help with complex cases.
2. Family-led funeral (small attended cremation)
A family-led funeral keeps the focus on a simple, intimate goodbye with a short service at the crematorium. There’s no cortege or limousines; instead, the family shapes the ceremony—choosing music, readings and eulogies—and guides the room themselves or invites a celebrant to help. You get the comfort of being present without the cost or complexity of a full traditional funeral.
What it is
A straightforward, attended cremation with a 30–60 minute chapel slot. Your loved one is brought into the chapel in advance, you arrive with guests, hold a personal service you’ve designed, then the committal follows. It’s flexible, dignified and low‑fuss.
Pros and cons
For many, it offers the right blend of presence and simplicity—but it won’t suit every family.
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Personal control: You decide the words, music and tone.
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Lower cost than traditional: No procession, hearses or limousines.
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Intimate feel: Time in the chapel with close family and friends.
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Option to add a celebrant: Only if you want support on the day.
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Short time window: Services are usually 30–60 minutes.
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Some planning still needed: You’ll curate the content and speakers.
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Less formal pageantry: Not ideal if you want full tradition and procession.
Typical UK costs
National providers list attended cremations from around £1,895–£1,899 for a 30–60 minute service—significantly below the UK average basic funeral of £4,285 (SunLife Cost of Dying 2025). Optional extras (e.g., using a professional celebrant) may add to the total.
How to arrange
- Book an attended slot at a local crematorium via your chosen provider.
- Decide who will lead (family member or celebrant).
- Plan the running order: music, readings, eulogies, tribute.
- Confirm practicals: attendees, accessibility needs, floral tributes if desired.
- Arrive on the day and hold your service; the committal follows.
Who it’s best for
- Families who want to be present but keep things simple and affordable.
- Those seeking a personal ceremony without the formality of a cortege.
- People comfortable guiding the service (with or without a celebrant).
- Anyone wanting structure now, with scope for a later celebration of life.
3. Celebration of life memorial (held separately from cremation or burial)
A celebration of life is a memorial focused on stories, music and shared memories rather than formal ritual. Crucially, it’s held separately from the cremation or burial, which removes time pressure and lets you shape something warm, inclusive and unmistakably personal. It pairs especially well with direct cremation, giving you space to plan the tone, place and guest list that best reflects the person who has died.
What it is
A flexible gathering without the body present (you may choose to have the ashes there). It can happen at home, in a favourite pub or restaurant, outdoors in a park, or at a community venue. Expect tributes, photos, readings and a playlist that celebrates a life well lived.
Pros and cons
A celebration of life is one of the most adaptable funeral alternatives in the UK, but consider the trade‑offs.
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Versatile locations: Home, pub/restaurant, outdoors or community spaces all work.
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Uplifting tone: Emphasis on joy and remembrance over formality.
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Flexible timing: Hold it when people can travel and you feel ready.
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Inclusive format: Mix of stories, music and visuals suits diverse beliefs.
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Complements direct cremation: Ideal follow‑on when there’s no chapel service.
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Less ritualised “closure”: Some may miss a formal committal.
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More planning for families: You’ll coordinate venue, invites and running order.
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Costs can creep: Venue hire and catering add up if not budgeted.
Typical UK costs
There’s no fixed price—spend ranges from minimal (a home gathering) to higher if you book a venue, catering or a celebrant. Paired with a direct cremation (often advertised from around £1,299 nationally versus a £4,285 UK average basic funeral, SunLife 2025), overall outlay is commonly lower than a traditional funeral. Your memorial cost then depends on venue, guest numbers, food/drink and any professional support.
How to arrange
Keep it simple and true to the person.
- Choose timing after the cremation or burial so key people can attend.
- Pick a venue (home, favourite pub, outdoors, community hall) and check accessibility.
- Shape the format: who welcomes, who speaks, readings, music, photo slideshow.
- Decide on ashes: present on the day or plan a separate scattering.
- Handle practicals: invitations, catering/refreshments, order of events, keepsakes.
Who it’s best for
- Families wanting an upbeat, personal tribute without chapel formalities.
- Those choosing direct cremation and planning a farewell on their own timetable.
- Friends and relatives spread across the country who need notice to attend.
- Anyone seeking budget control with freedom to prioritise what matters most.
4. Humanist or non-religious funeral ceremony
Among the most requested funeral alternatives in the UK, a humanist or non‑religious ceremony offers a warm, secular tribute without hymns or scripture. It centres on the person’s story—often with music, readings and a main tribute—while keeping faith content out of the service.
What it is
A personalised, no‑religion ceremony led by a humanist celebrant, a family member or friend. The format mirrors a traditional service—welcome, life story, tributes, quiet reflection, committal words—but uses secular readings and music. It can be held at a crematorium chapel, community venue, outdoors, or alongside a woodland burial.
Pros and cons
This option balances structure with freedom; consider how much ritual your family wants.
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Personal and inclusive: Secular words that suit mixed‑belief families.
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Flexible venue: Crematorium, hall or outdoors where permitted.
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Celebrant support available: Craft a tribute that feels authentic.
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Not suitable for religious rites: No hymns or scripture.
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Time‑limited chapels: Typical 30–60 minute slots.
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Some planning needed: You’ll help shape the content.
Typical UK costs
Costs broadly track an attended cremation. National prices for small attended services are often listed from about £1,895–£1,899 for a 30–60 minute chapel slot, versus a £4,285 UK average basic funeral (SunLife Cost of Dying 2025). A humanist celebrant’s fee is additional and varies by region and scope. Community or outdoor venues may involve separate hire costs.
How to arrange
Keep the focus on the life lived and the words that fit.
- Choose the venue (crematorium, hall, outdoors with permissions).
- Book an attended cremation slot or confirm burial/memorial details.
- Appoint a humanist celebrant or select a family lead.
- Gather memories, music and readings; draft the tribute together.
- Finalise logistics: accessibility, order of service, photos/sound.
Who it’s best for
- Families with secular or mixed beliefs.
- Those wanting structure without religious content.
- People who value storytelling and a celebratory tone.
- Anyone holding a chapel service plus a later memorial or wake.
5. Woodland or natural burial (green funeral)
For families seeking an eco‑friendly, tranquil resting place, a woodland or natural burial replaces headstones and manicured plots with meadows, woodland and birdsong. As one of the most environmentally conscious funeral alternatives in the UK, it focuses on natural materials and minimal intervention while offering a profoundly peaceful setting for farewells.
What it is
A burial at a designated natural or woodland site, typically in a forest, meadow or wooded area. The deceased is laid to rest in a biodegradable coffin or shroud, without embalming. Headstones and conventional memorials are not permitted; instead, a tree or flowers may be planted to mark the grave.
Pros and cons
This option offers strong environmental credentials and a serene atmosphere, with some practical trade‑offs to consider.
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Environmentally sustainable: Avoids embalming fluids and non‑biodegradable materials.
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Connects with nature: Peaceful settings in forests, meadows or woodland.
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Helps conservation: Many sites support wildlife habitats and native planting.
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Strict rules on memorials: No headstones; limited markers only.
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Location and availability: Sites are fewer than conventional cemeteries but increasing.
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Weather and access: Outdoor services need contingency plans.
Typical UK costs
Prices vary by region and site. Expect:
- Burial plot: From a few hundred pounds up to several thousand pounds (location dependent).
- Additional fees: Interment and grave‑digging charges may apply.
- Other costs: Biodegradable coffin/shroud, and any celebrant or venue hire if you hold a separate ceremony.
How to arrange
Start by shortlisting local natural burial grounds, then confirm each site’s rules and availability.
- Choose a site and check regulations (memorials, planting, funeral party size).
- Reserve a plot and obtain fee details (interment and digging).
- Select a biodegradable coffin or shroud and avoid embalming.
- Plan the ceremony: family‑led or with a celebrant; readings and music outdoors.
- Arrange transport and logistics: access, parking, seating, and wet‑weather cover.
Who it’s best for
- Eco‑minded families prioritising low‑impact funerals.
- Nature lovers who value a quiet, living memorial among trees and wildflowers.
- Those comfortable without headstones, preferring natural markers and conservation aims.
- Families wanting a simple, reflective graveside gathering rather than a formal chapel service.
6. Water cremation (resomation/aquamation) — limited UK availability
Water cremation uses alkaline hydrolysis in a sealed, pressurised chamber to break down the body, producing a fine powder returned to the family much like ashes. It’s often described as gentler and more environmentally friendly than flame cremation, but it can take longer—up to 16 hours—and is not currently available in the UK.
What it is
A water‑based process (also called resomation or aquamation) that reduces remains using alkaline solution, temperature and pressure. Families receive a powder for keeping, scattering or interment, similar in practice to ashes from a traditional cremation. It’s established in some countries abroad but not offered in the UK at present.
Pros and cons
Consider the benefits alongside the current access limitations.
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Eco‑friendlier profile: Lower impact than flame cremation is often cited.
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Gentle process: Many value the non‑flame method and dignified outcome.
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Familiar aftercare: Powder can be kept or scattered like ashes.
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Not available in the UK: No domestic booking option right now.
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Longer timeframe: The process can take up to 16 hours.
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Limited facilities globally: Access depends on local regulation.
Typical UK costs
There’s no standard UK pricing because it isn’t offered domestically. If you want a simple, lower‑cost alternative today, direct cremation is widely available from around £1,299 with national providers, compared with a UK average basic funeral of £4,285 (SunLife Cost of Dying 2025).
How to arrange
As it stands, you can’t book water cremation in the UK. If this is your preference:
- Record your wishes in writing so family knows your intent.
- Monitor availability with local authorities and providers for future updates.
- Choose a near‑term alternative now (e.g., direct cremation or woodland burial) and plan a memorial that reflects your values.
Who it’s best for
- Eco‑minded planners willing to wait for UK availability.
- Families comfortable separating the technical committal from a later memorial.
- Anyone seeking a gentler, non‑flame method when/if it becomes accessible.
7. DIY funeral without a funeral director
A DIY funeral means the family organises the farewell themselves, without appointing a funeral director. In the UK there’s no legal requirement to use one, so you can handle care, transport, paperwork, the cremation or burial booking, and the ceremony. Many families choose this route for control, savings, or because it feels like a final act of love—while bringing in specialist help only where needed.
What it is
You take responsibility for the practical and ceremonial elements: arranging collection/transport, deciding on cremation or burial, completing the necessary legal paperwork, purchasing a coffin or shroud that meets venue rules, and leading any service yourselves (or engaging a celebrant).
Pros and cons
DIY can be deeply personal and affordable, but it adds workload at a difficult time.
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High control: You shape every detail to reflect the person.
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Potential savings: Avoids director fees; you pay only third‑party costs.
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Personal involvement: Many find hands‑on care meaningful.
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Flexible ceremony: Religious, non‑religious or family‑led—your choice.
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Admin and logistics: Paperwork, bookings and timings are your responsibility.
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Care and transport: You must arrange safe storage and suitable vehicles.
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Emotional load: Decision‑making can be demanding in grief.
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Venue rules: Crematoria/cemeteries have strict requirements you must meet.
Typical UK costs
You’ll still pay third‑party charges such as:
- Cremation or cemetery fees (and any medical/legal fees as required).
- Interment/grave‑digging fees for burial.
- Coffin or shroud that complies with site regulations.
- Transport (private vehicle or hired ambulance/hearse) and bearers if needed.
- Venue/celebrant/printing/flowers if you include a service or memorial.
Overall spend varies widely with your choices; DIY can reduce costs versus a traditional funeral, but careful budgeting is essential.
How to arrange
Start with the legal and practical essentials, then build the farewell you want.
- Decide on cremation or burial and contact your chosen crematorium or cemetery to confirm availability, rules and fees.
- Complete the legal paperwork to register the death and meet cremation/burial requirements in your area; check timescales with the venue.
- Arrange care and storage (at home where appropriate, or with a professional mortuary) and any washing/preparation you wish.
- Choose a coffin or shroud that meets the site’s specifications (biodegradable is required at natural burial grounds).
- Plan transport from place of rest to the venue (private vehicle where permitted, or hire a suitable ambulance/hearse) and organise bearers.
- Design the ceremony (optional): running order, speakers, readings, music; decide whether to use a celebrant or keep it family‑led.
- Confirm final details with the venue, submit paperwork, pay fees, and coordinate attendees. Arrange ashes return/scattering or grave marking in line with site rules.
Tip: Many families choose a hybrid approach—handling the ceremony and memorial themselves while outsourcing specific tasks (e.g., professional mortuary care, long‑distance transport or complex paperwork) to keep things safe and straightforward.
Who it’s best for
- Hands‑on families who want full control and a highly personal goodbye.
- Budget‑conscious planners aiming to minimise professional fees.
- Those comfortable with logistics and liaising directly with venues and authorities.
- People who prefer a separate memorial at home, outdoors, or in a community space on their own timetable.
8. Donating your body to medical science
Donation is a generous alternative that helps train future healthcare professionals and supports vital research. It’s less common than other options, but for some people it’s the most meaningful legacy. Medical schools handle donations with great respect, and families can still hold a memorial or celebration of life at a later date if they wish.
What it is
A person consents in advance for their body to be used by a medical school for teaching and/or research. After the donation period ends, remains are cared for with dignity and returned or laid to rest according to the institution’s policies.
Pros and cons
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Meaningful contribution: Supports medical training and research.
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Handled with respect: Medical schools treat donations with care and dignity.
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Option for later memorial: Families can plan a separate tribute in their own way.
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Less common/availability varies: Processes differ by institution.
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Planning required: Wishes should be recorded and discussed with family.
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Policies differ: Return/committal arrangements aren’t the same everywhere.
Typical UK costs
There’s no single UK price for donation and policies vary. Do not assume costs are covered. If donation can’t proceed, families typically choose another low‑cost option such as direct cremation (often advertised from around £1,299 nationally versus a £4,285 UK average basic funeral, SunLife Cost of Dying 2025).
How to arrange
- Research medical schools in your region and request their donation guidance.
- Record your wishes in writing and keep copies with important documents.
- Tell your next of kin/executor so they can contact the school promptly.
- Follow the school’s process for consent and any required paperwork.
- Make a back‑up plan (e.g., direct cremation) in case donation isn’t possible.
Who it’s best for
- People who want their death to help others through education and research.
- Families comfortable separating the technical donation from a later memorial.
- Those seeking a thoughtful, non‑traditional alternative aligned with personal values.
Choosing your next step
You’ve seen the main alternatives—now choose the path that matches your budget, how present you want to be on the day, your environmental values, and how much planning you can take on. Direct cremation keeps things simple and affordable; a small family‑led service offers presence without pomp; woodland burial puts nature first; DIY gives full control; water cremation isn’t UK‑available yet; and donation creates a lasting legacy.
- Set a budget ceiling and decide cremation or burial first.
- Choose presence: unattended now with a later memorial, or a small attended service.
- Pick the tone: secular or religious; family‑led or with a celebrant.
- Check local availability (chapel slots, natural burial sites) and any site rules.
- Write down wishes and gather paperwork so the process feels calm and clear.
If you want a straightforward, low‑cost unattended option with caring, 24/7 support, speak to Go Direct Cremations.