Direct Cremation

Direct Cremation: cremation without a ceremony in England and Wales

Direct Cremation is a British funeral company specialising in direct cremation, a service that separates cremation from any attended funeral ceremony. The company operates in England and Wales and presents itself as a dignified, hassle-free, and affordable alternative to traditional funerals. Its price starts at £895.

What is a direct cremation

As the company itself explains, direct cremation consists of carrying out the cremation without a funeral service attended by family or friends. This removes the urgency of organising a traditional funeral and allows clients to hold a memorial event later when they see fit. The unattended cremation is usually completed within two weeks and the ashes can be delivered shortly afterwards. The company notes that this type of service has grown in popularity as a more modern and economical way of managing funeral arrangements.

Arrangement and handling process

The service is structured in six steps. The first is contact, by phone or online, to obtain an exact price with no hidden costs and no upfront payment. Then the company's team handles the legal paperwork, working with doctors or the coroner to complete the formalities. Next, they collect the deceased from any hospital or mortuary in England or Wales and transfer them directly to their crematorium. The cremation is carried out individually and privately, and although the family is not present, the date and time are communicated in advance. Afterwards, the ashes can be scattered in the crematorium's Garden of Remembrance at no extra cost, or placed in a contemporary wooden urn with an engraved plaque and delivered to the home. Payment is made after the cremation, with no advance payments or deposits, with a standard period of two weeks from completion of the service.

Service conditions and limitations

The company states that it cannot accept deceased persons weighing more than 300 pounds (approximately 136 kg) due to limitations of its crematorium. In addition, the application form asks whether the deceased is taller than 6 feet or weighs more than 200 pounds (14 stone or 90 kg), as well as whether they have a pacemaker or other implanted battery-operated device. It also asks where the deceased is located and what is to be done with the ashes.

Public assistance and payment

Direct Cremation offers options for those who cannot afford the funeral. The company helps clients apply for the UK Government's Funeral Expenses Payment, which covers funeral costs for those who meet the eligibility criteria. No advance payment or deposit is required, and the invoice is issued after the cremation.

Social commitment

The company allocates 10% of its profits to funding scholarships for NHS doctors and nurses. According to its founder, Steven Cains, the NHS is one of the greatest achievements in British history and the professionals who make it up deserve more support, so these funds are used to help train the next generation of healthcare staff. The company also states that it pays fair wages, committing to the Living Wage.

Origin and philosophy of the company

The founder, Steven Cains, explains that the idea arose after his personal experience arranging his grandmother's funeral; she had leukaemia. At that time, the funeral directors he consulted told him what he "should" arrange instead of asking him what he wanted, and the result was a traditional crematorium service that cost more than £3,000. After working at a traditional funeral director, Cains developed Direct Cremation with the aim of separating cremation from the attended service, allowing families to organise their own farewell event whenever they wish. The company emphasises that the cremation is carried out quickly and efficiently, and that the ashes can be delivered personally anywhere in the country.

Customer reviews

The company shows its 5-star rating on Google and Yelp. Among the testimonials collected, Philip T. highlights that they received everything expected at a very affordable price; Kitty A. appreciates the ease of the process and the punctual delivery of the ashes in an urn she describes as beautiful; and Margaret M. describes the process as smooth and efficient, and considers that the team was considerate at all times.

Location and contact

124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX · Phone: 0800 133 7961