Unattended Funeral

Otherwise known as a direct cremation, our unattended funeral takes place without a procession, service, ceremony or attendees, and is delivered with the utmost quality and care.

Over 74,000 cremations a year Independent customer service rating of 4.9/5 on Feefo A caring and attentive team here for you and your family 24/7 Nationwide provider operating throughout mainland UK
Over 74,000 cremations a year Independent customer service rating of 4.9/5 on Feefo A caring and attentive team here for you and your family 24/7 Nationwide provider operating throughout mainland UK

What is an unattended funeral?

Unattended funerals are a popular, affordable alternative to a traditional funeral. There are no processions, no viewing of the deceased and no attendance of mourners. An unattended funeral instead focuses on making the whole process as affordable and stress-free as can be. On average, it's 70%* cheaper than a traditional funeral and is arranged with little fuss.

At Distinct Cremations, we make this possible. Our caring and attentive support team are here for you 24/7 to help with any questions you or your loved ones may have, whether that's with a query around the arrangement process, with help completing the necessary paperwork or something else no matter how big or small.

And when the time comes, our experienced funeral team offer exemplary care for the deceased, from beginning right to the end.

* 70% saving is based on the cost of a traditional funeral at £4,510 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026, sunlife.co.uk/ funeral-costs) vs the cost of a Distinct Cremations direct cremation at £1,350.

Choosing an unattended funeral 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.

Cremation with Distinct

An unattended funeral with Distinct Cremations

The contemporary, simple, fuss-free farewell

  • An unattended cremation with no mourners and no service
  • A compassionate, attentive team there 24/7 for your questions and support with paperwork
  • You can organise a separate memorial service that's personal and unique to your loved one
  • On average 70%* cheaper than a traditional funeral, with prices starting from just £1,350


* 70% saving is based on the cost of a traditional funeral at £4,510 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026, sunlife.co.uk/ funeral-costs) vs the cost of a Distinct Cremations direct cremation at £1,350.

Traditional Funeral

Traditional funeral

A fixed format funeral, with a set service

  • A set format 20-50 minute service held in a traditional setting like a church or chapel with mourners present
  • Traditionally less personal and flexible
  • Option to have a procession with a hearse and limousines
  • Funeral and service coordination from a funeral director
  • Costs on average £4,510# for a basic funeral





    # The average cost of a basic funeral in 2025 (SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026, sunlife.co.uk/funeral-costs)

What is included in an unattended cremation?

  • An unattended cremation
  • Collection of the deceased from a hospital or coroner's mortuary in office hours, weekdays
  • Care at our professional mortuary
  • 24/7 support
  • Help with all legal and cremation paperwork
  • Prepare the deceased for cremation
  • A classic coffin and urn
  • Removal of artificial mechanisms & pacemakers
  • Respectful cremation at one of our crematoria
  • Ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance

What isn't included in an unattended cremation?

  • Attendance of mourners
  • A funeral service or procession
  • Choice of crematorium
  • Choice of time
  • Embalming
  • Viewing of the deceased
  • Special requests such as memorials, flowers, catering or obituaries
Distinct Cremations

Whether your loved one has died or you’re planning for the future, we’re on hand to deliver a first-class service filled with care and compassion.

Find our low cost, no frills funeral services below or alternatively you can view our price list or our CMA standardised price list..

Arrange a funeral

From £1,350

Whether your loved one has died or is close to passing, our team is available 24/7 to support and talk you through the next steps; from collection and care of your loved one, completion of all paperwork, to the day of the funeral itself.

 

Unattended funeral plans

From £1,795 or £20.74** per month

Relax knowing that the arrangements are agreed and paid for. There are no medical questions and acceptance is guaranteed. You can also pay in monthly instalments.

** Price is for a 50 year old paying over a 10 year period. Total cost is £2,488.80 and includes admin fees.

Get in touch with us today

Whether you're wanting to arrange a funeral today, interested in funeral plans, or looking for something else, our customer service specialists are here for you 24/7 to answer any of your questions.

Call on 01543 212 000

An alternative to a traditional funeral

An unattended funeral is a great option for families looking for a fuss-free way to say goodbye. It removes the pressure of organising a traditional funeral service, allowing you to create a more personal memorial service, should you choose, at a later date.

At Distinct Cremations, we take care of arranging the funeral and return the ashes within 14 days. This means that your family and friends can then hold the memorial service at a date and venue that suits everyone.

You can also decide upon the location and date that is best suited to the attendees. Some ideas for holding a memorial service include having a meal at a favourite restaurant, a picnic in the park or a function at the local pub.

Distinct Cremations

Arranging an unattended cremation with Distinct Cremations is straightforward. If you need any help, our customer service specialists are available 24/7 for any of your questions.

1. Call us

You can call us any time of the day, 365 days a year, and we will collect the deceased from the place of death and bring them into our care.

Call on 01543 212 000

2. Paperwork guidance

Whilst we care for the deceased, our customer service specialists will contact the family to book the cremation and complete all the paperwork.

Our care for the deceased

3. Cremation and ashes

We will tell you the cremation date. Your loved one's ashes can then be scattered in our garden of remembrance or personally hand returned to you.

Hand delivery of the ashes

One of the UK’s best value direct cremation services, delivered with a caring and compassionate heart

Not only are our low cost funerals carried out with love and care, but we also offer one of the UK’s best value services.

From your very first phone call, right through to the hand delivery of the ashes, you can rest assured that you will be in the most caring and attentive hands with Distinct Cremations.

Our caring team are here 24/7 to support you through the most difficult of times

Rhiannon Pearson

Team Leader

Rhiannon P v3

What our customers say about us

We offer the highest level of support, but don't just take our word for it. Below are recent reviews from customers who bought a funeral with us.

4.9/5
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4.9/5
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4.9/5
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Keith Benson, on Feefo 18 Jun 2026
Excellent service from distinct cremation from the initial contact continuing until after the service. I mainly dealt with Kerry who was very professional,kind and considerate. Any questions or queries were fully explained or dealt with. The actual service was just what we wanted and in a lovely setting. A truly five star service, thank you.
Anonymous, on Feefo 15 Jun 2026
Friendly service…..full information given in clear easy to understand…….didn’t feel pushed to buy which was nice.
Tracy Rosanna Norris, on Feefo 9 Jun 2026
The service I received from day one was excellent. Maxine showed both empathy & patience, concerning our loss. She explained clearly the necessary steps & paperwork I needed to complete in order for the cremation to take place. It was so effortless & each stage was communicated & explained well. I cannot rate them highly enough, for their professionalism & care during a difficult time for us.
Marion Rose, on Feefo 5 Jun 2026
Helpful and easy to contact and organise Informative and clear about process and cost Straightforward process when loved one passes Dignified collection of loved one from home Good communication of where loved one is held and what day they will be cremated Offering delivery of ashes within 14 days of cremation (but we opted to collect earlier) Comforting having loved one back Freedom to scatter ashes ourselves and celebrate their life at our chosen date and venue Good follow up care
Anonymous, on Feefo 18 May 2026
Direct Cremations were absolutely wonderful. Very very professional and completely sympathetic. Nothing was too much for them. Kerri was a pleasure to deal with and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Paula Dunn, on Feefo 15 May 2026
Distinct cremations was a very respectful company. I had a Lady called Alison taking care of me , Alice went through every step of the cremation details from beginning to end , she was wonderful thank you very much Alice. I even got a call today from Alice today the day after my partners ashes were brought back to me to see how I was. I would recommend Distinct Cremations to anybody. Thank you .
Anonymous, on Feefo 29 Apr 2026
Easy to purchase and excellent follow up
4.9/5
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4.9/5
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4.9/5
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