Can I have no funeral, just cremation?
You may have questioned; can I have no funeral, just cremation?
The answer is yes. At Simplicity Cremations we offer an affordable no funeral just cremation, also known as a 'direct cremation' or a 'cremation only funeral', from just £1,399.
Whilst a funeral service before the cremation remains traditional, it isn't obligatory and direct cremations are growing rapidly in popularity as a simpler, more affordable alternative.
A funeral can be tailored to honour the wishes of the person who has passed, with many families now choosing to arrange a cremation without a service beforehand. This could save you thousands compared with a traditional service.
What does no funeral, just cremation mean?
No funeral just cremation is essentially a cremation without a service or ceremony with mourners beforehand. Unlike a traditional funeral, there's also no procession with a hearse, limousines or pallbearers.
Your loved one is collected from their place of rest a few days prior to the cremation, so we can care for and prepare them for cremation in our quality mortuary facilities and transport them to a local crematorium.
Each funeral takes place in a respectful and compassionate manner. Many families simply prefer to hold a memorial more fitting of their loved one's life, at a time and location away from the crematorium.
You may decide to hold a very personal memorial service or celebration of life, with some choosing to have their loved ones ashes present.
What does no funeral, just cremation include?
At Simplicity Cremations, we refer to our no funeral, just cremation service as an unattended funeral.
Our unattended funerals includes everything you will need for a funeral without a service (or high cost), including:
Cremation fees
Simple coffin
Basic urn
Care of your loved one and preparation in our mortuary facilities
Transportation of the deceased to a local crematorium
Return of the ashes / scattering of ashes
Unlike a traditional funeral, there's no option to upgrade to a more expensive coffin, embalming is not required and we don't offer the option to view the deceased after they've been brought into our care.
Following the cremation, the ashes can be respectfully scattered in our tranquil gardens of remembrance. Alternatively, the ashes can be hand delivered to you for an additional charge.
Not all providers offer a no funeral just cremation service and where they do, what's included as standard can vary, so it's worth checking the detail before committing.
For example, it’s common for cremation fees or doctor’s fees to be an additional cost, so this is something to look out for when choosing a cremation provider.
How much does a cremation only funeral cost?
At Simplicity, a cremation only funeral is available from £1,399.
A funeral without a service is typically the least expensive funeral option in the UK, as it doesn't include many of the ceremonial and often expensive elements associated with a traditional funeral.
Many people worry that a funeral without a service indicates a lack of care or facilities. Rest assured; this is simply not the case.
As part of one of the largest funeral groups in the UK, we operate to consistently high standards. We're the only truly national direct cremation provider with our own extensive network of mortuary facilities, crematoria, vehicles and staff.
Our cremation costs are lower because the arrangements are made over the telephone, with the help of our team of funeral professionals.
There's no need for you to visit a funeral home or to have several lengthy meetings with a funeral director, as is often the case when arranging a traditional service.
Our services are available throughout the whole of mainland Great Britain. Unlike many providers, we won’t charge you mileage fees or increase the cost of our services outside of a certain radius.
Why do people choose a funeral without a service?
There are a number of common reasons why people choose a cremation without a funeral service, which include:
#1 Minimal fuss
Many families choose a funeral without a service because it's simply what their loved one wanted.
This may be because they preferred the lack of fuss and formality that this type of cremation can offer, or they felt uncomfortable either arranging or attending a funeral during their lifetime and didn't want their family to experience this discomfort.
This explains why a direct cremation can also be referred to as a 'no fuss funeral'.
#2 Easy to arrange
Some people don't like the thought of the distress that arranging a traditional funeral may cause for their family after they're gone.
A cremation only funeral is considerably easier to arrange and also means that family members won't have to make difficult decisions aspects like about coffin type, flowers, transport and venue hire.
#3 Cost
In cases where the decision to have a funeral without service is cost driven, it’s often because the deceased didn't see the value in a traditional funeral.
Often, they would prefer that their family chose a low-cost funeral and instead spend the money that would have been spent on a traditional funeral, in a more meaningful or even enjoyable way.
See our dedicated direct cremation costs guide for a more detailed breakdown of costs.
#4 Distance
It can be difficult for family and friends to travel to a funeral, often at short notice, if they didn't live local.
A funeral without a service allows you to arrange a celebration of life or memorial service at a time, date and location away from the crematorium, allowing more time for loved ones to make travel arrangements.
Arrange a cremation only funeral for the future
We know it can be difficult discussing funeral wishes with your family, but it's important to make your wishes known especially if you've specific requests.
Putting a pre-paid funeral plan in place ahead of time helps to ensure your wishes are honoured when the time comes.
A funeral plan can relieve your loved ones of the stress and uncertainty often associated with making funeral arrangements, as well as protect them from rising funeral costs.
As long as you're aged 18 or older, you're guaranteed to be accepted for a Simplicity direct cremation funeral plan.
Want to know how Simplicity's funeral plan compares to other providers? Take a look at our cheapest prepaid funeral plans guide for a full breakdown of prices and importantly what's included.
Arrange a no funeral, just cremation with Simplicity
Choosing a no funeral, just cremation send-off should feel simple and affordable. With Simplicity Cremations, arranging an unattended cremation is exactly that.
Our dedicated team is on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to guide you through every step of the journey with compassion and care.
From the moment you contact us, we take care of everything. We’ll collect your loved one in one of our private ambulances and bring them into our care at the nearest Simplicity facility.
Because we manage the entire end-to-end process ourselves, with no long-distance transfers or third‑party handovers, you benefit from a smooth and reliable service.
Our direct cremation option offers a dignified farewell without the cost or formality of a traditional funeral. After the cremation, you can choose what feels right for you:
- Collect the ashes from the crematorium
- Have them hand‑delivered anywhere in mainland Great Britain (extra fee), or
- Ask us to scatter them in our peaceful gardens of remembrance
A Simplicity direct cremation gives you the freedom to say goodbye in your own way, at your own pace - while keeping costs down and the process straightforward.
If you’d like help arranging a no funeral, just cremation service, our team is here to support you.
