With so many options available, it can be difficult to determine which type of funeral is best suited for you.
From the contemporary choices of direct cremations that Distinct Cremations specialise in, to the traditional funeral and emerging eco options, below we'll provide you with a little guidance on each funeral option.
Otherwise known as an unattended funeral, a direct cremation takes place without a procession, service, ceremony and attendees. A direct cremation is the least expensive funeral option, a contemporary simple, fuss-free farewell, free of tradition.
Similar to a direct cremation, a private cremation is also free of procession and tradition, but there is a small service for a select number of attendees. A private cremation is for those looking for a fuss-free farewell and the final chance to say goodbye.
A simple funeral - also known as an essential funeral or an attended funeral - is a funeral without a procession, but with a service and attendees. It's the lowest cost option for those wanting a traditional funeral, with little fuss.
* Average price
The most common option, a traditional funeral includes a service and ceremony, and can be attended by as many people as the crematorium can hold. A procession with hearses and limousines may also be included, depending on the family's wishes.
** The average cost of cremation in 2021 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2022, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)
There are further options too including burials, eco burials and woodland funerals. While burials have become less desired in recent years, the environmentally friendly alternatives have risen in popularity and availability.
At Distinct Cremations we're focused on taking the stress away from your family, making the process as easy and straightforward as possible.
Our direct and private cremations are fuss-free, simple and affordable delivered with care, dignity and respect. And from beginning to end, our expert team will be on hand, 24/7, for your support.
Find our services below or alternatively you can view our CMA standardised price list.
A direct cremation is a great choice for those looking for a simple, low-cost unattended cremation without a funeral ceremony. Direct cremations take place with no service or mourners present at our high-quality crematoria where dignified care is guaranteed throughout.
View Our Direct CremationA private cremation is a funeral where the number of people attending is limited, this could include a small gathering of friends and family. You can have up to eight people attending and a 10 minute service, making this a simple and affordable option.
View Our Private CremationChoosing a direct cremation instead of a traditional funeral lets you celebrate a loved one's life however you wish, with less stress and no fuss.
You can view the key differences between each funeral option in more detail below.
Our Direct Cremation | Our Private Cremation | Simple Funeral | Traditional Cremation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Paperwork support & professional advice | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Funeral service coordination and guidance | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Washing & preparation of the deceased | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Choice of coffin | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Option to view deceased | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Choice of crematorium | ❌ | ✔️ ! | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Choice of cremation date | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Funeral procession | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔️ |
Funeral service with attendance of mourners | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Return of ashes in ashes container or urn | ✔️ | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
! Choice of 38 Westerleigh crematoriums
"I talked to the people at Distinct Cremations. They told me these days many of us don’t want to spend large sums of money on an elaborate funeral."
Sue Cook, TV Presenter
Arranging a direct cremation with Distinct is straightforward. However our customer service advisors are available 24/7 for any of your questions.
When you are ready, you can call us any time of the day, 365 days a year, and we will collect your loved one from the place of death, bringing them into our care.
Call On 01543 212 000Whilst your loved one is cared for in our high quality mortuary facilities, our customer service advisor will contact you to book the cremation and complete all the paperwork.
We will tell you the cremation date, if you wish to know. Your loved one's can then be scattered in our garden of remembrance or returned to you at no extra cost.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer viewings of the deceased before, or during, the direct cremation.
If you’ve chosen an attended cremation, you’ll be able to pick which of our crematoriums your funeral will take place at. A direct or intimate cremation will take place in your region (where possible). We recommend you let your family and friends know of your plans in advance if you’re having an attended funeral at one of our crematoria.
We take pride in offering the deceased a dignified send-off. While in our care we wash their body, wash and comb their hair and dress them before the cremation.
With Distinct Cremations, it will take approximately 2-4 weeks to arrange the funeral. We will take care of all the arrangements, from the paperwork right through to the hand-delivering you the ashes.
Upon arraging a funeral, once you’ve agreed the type of service that you’d like, one of our Customer Service Advisors will take the payment in full, which can be made by credit or debit card.
If you’re on certain benefits, you may be eligible to receive help from the government towards funeral costs.
There’s no need to use a funeral director if you don’t want to. You can arrange the details of the funeral directly with us and we’ll also help make all the arrangements. If you need help on where to start, check out our in-depth guide to arranging a funeral.
At Distinct Cremations, we offer the best direct cremation service on the market for the best price. You can see how we compare to other funeral providers in the market with our comparison table
If you need to organise a funeral now, we are open 24/7 and will make all the arrangements from taking the deceased into our care and completing all the paperwork. Your customer service advisors will liaise with you to make arrangements for the cremation and keep you updated.
A cremation should be respectful, affordable and stress-free. We provide customers with a funeral that's of minimal emotional and financial burden, via direct cremation.
We are part of the Westerleigh Group, who are one of the largest funeral and cremation providers in the UK, serving over 50,000 families each year, and have been established for over 30 years
We have clear, transparent pricing, avoid hidden extras, but most importantly, we believe that low cost should not mean low quality.