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Get a free Pure Cremation funeral plan quote:
Five facts about pure cremation
1. A pure cremation is a caring, respectful choice made with love and care
While some believe a direct cremation is for people who don’t care, the reality is often the opposite. A traditional funeral includes a service that you may not get much say in, for example it will be at the crematorium, there will be a time limit and a limit on who can come and what you can do. With a pure cremation, family can arrange any service or send-off they wish. And the advantage is, there are no difficult decisions to make about coffin handles or which flowers, whether to have a limousine and so on.
Plus, people who’ve bought a plan from us – which is much more affordable than a traditional funeral – have said they chose us because, ‘I’d rather my money went to my family, rather than a funeral director’.
With Pure Cremation, families can arrange any send-off, funeral service or celebration of life they wish
2. Everyone has their own new, high quality, solid-wood coffin
There is a common misconception that you don’t get a coffin with this service, but that is not true. At Pure Cremation, everyone has their own, solid wood, environmentally-friendly coffin which they are placed in as soon as they are in our care.
They rest peacefully in their coffin at our mortuary until the cremation, and then they are given a unique ceramic disc which survives the cremation and guarantees the identity of their ashes.
Someone arriving into our care, where they will rest peacefully until their cremation
Someone arriving into our care, where they will rest peacefully until their cremation
2. Everyone has their own new, high quality, solid-wood coffin
There is a common misconception that you don’t get a coffin with this service, but that is not true. At Pure Cremation, everyone has their own, solid wood, environmentally-friendly coffin which they are placed in as soon as they are in our care.
They rest peacefully in their coffin at our mortuary until the cremation, and then they are given a unique ceramic disc which survives the cremation and guarantees the identity of their ashes.
3. Our team really care about what they do
Because direct cremation is sometimes called an "unattended cremation," some believe there is no one there. However, it doesn’t mean there’s no-one at the crematorium, it just means family don’t have a service there. Our professional staff are always in attendance, performing the cremation with the utmost care and respect.
In fact, in a traditional funeral, although the coffin may go behind a curtain during the ceremony (known as the ‘committal’), the cremation doesn’t usually happen there and then – it may be performed several days later. In that regard, a traditional funeral is no different from a direct cremation – family aren’t there during the actual cremation.
Pure Cremation also offers family the option to have a service in our own crematoria, whether in our chapel or dedicated rooms, if they wish.
Staff at our Charlton Park Crematorium, with its own Garden of Remembrance in 10 acres of parkland
Our viewing gallery, for families who wish to witness the committal just before the cremation
4. A pure cremation can include personal touches
Families ask us to place personal items with their loved one, and we can even arrange for families to witness the start of the cremation if their faith requires it.
Because you aren't restricted to a ceremony at a crematorium, you have the freedom to arrange a send-off in a location and style that is much more personal to the individual.
4. A pure cremation can include personal touches
Families ask us to place personal items with their loved one, and we can even arrange for families to witness the start of the cremation if their faith requires it.
Because you aren't restricted to a ceremony at a crematorium, you have the freedom to arrange a send-off in a location and style that is much more personal to the individual.
One of our biodegradable urns with its ceramic disc for complete peace of mind
5. We help families remember loved ones their way
Cremations are far more common than burials nowadays, which means you’re not likely to have a gravestone, but there will be an urn containing the person’s ashes. This could be kept at a family member’s home, or in a columbarium (typically a room in a church or cemetery building with ‘niches’, which are cubbyholes for holding urns).
At Pure Cremation, we return the ashes in a biodegradable urn, which means that it can be buried and a memorial stone could be placed there, or a tree planted to remember the deceased.
In addition, Pure Cremation gives everyone in their care an individually-numbered unique ceramic disc. Because it is ceramic, it survives the cremation intact and is used to guarantee the identity of the person’s ashes. This is included with the urn when it is returned to loved ones, as another token to remember them by.
One of our biodegradable urns with its ceramic disc for complete peace of mind
Frequently asked questions
What is a direct cremation plan?
A direct cremation plan simply means a funeral plan for a direct cremation, so there’s no ceremony at the crematorium and the price is likely to be much lower than a traditional funeral.
Can I have a direct cremation near me?
You can – although local funeral directors typically don’t have their own crematorium, so although the cremation might be reasonably close to where you live, it won’t actually be performed by the funeral director.
Wherever you live in mainland Britain, you can have a pure cremation. We will collect someone from anyone in mainland Britain and bring them into our care, performing the cremation at our own crematoria.
We then return the ashes, personally and by hand to loved ones, so they never have to travel anywhere – and of course they can arrange a send-off nearby, perhaps in a place that was meaningful to the person who has died.
What is the cheapest direct cremation?
A direct cremation may be less than half the price of a traditional funeral.
It’s always best to look at several companies and decide who you trust to provide the funeral you want – and if you’re buying a plan so that family don’t have to pay anything or make any arrangements, choose a plan that includes everything you need.
At Pure Cremation, our funeral plans come with the ‘Pure Price Promise’ that means family will never be asked to pay anything more for the cremation – we make all the arrangements and there’s nothing for families to pay.
How do I arrange a direct cremation?
You can arrange a direct cremation with your local funeral director if you wish. However, bear in mind that’s not ‘going direct’ as they are unlikely to have their own crematorium and will charge funeral director fees to make the arrangements.
Or, if someone has died and you’d prefer a pure cremation, you can call us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We can help relieve pressure and immediate stress by ensuring that the deceased has a dignified direct cremation at our highly-regarded crematoria, set in beautiful parkland.
Need help arranging a funeral now? Call 0800 160 1881
What is it meant by unattended?
9 out of 10 pure cremations are unattended at Pure Cremation, which means there are no mourners present for a funeral service at the crematorium or at the cremation itself. Our experienced cremation technicians will carry out the process with utmost respect and without anyone present – whether that is family or friends.
Do you need a coffin for a direct cremation?
Yes. In the UK, cremations will include a coffin, and that includes direct cremations. At Pure Cremation, everyone in our care has their own solid wood, environmentally-friendly coffin. Some other providers only offer ‘wood veneer’ coffins, but all direct cremations do have a coffin.
Which coffins are best for cremations?
A wide range of coffins can be used – wood (solid or veneer), wicker, bamboo or even cardboard coffins. At Pure Cremation we only ever use solid wood coffins. Ideally, a coffin will not include metal parts that would not be cremated. Environmentally-friendly coffins are also a key consideration, and at Pure we get our coffins from sustainable sources.
How much does a direct cremation cost?
A Pure Cremation costs £2,000 less than a traditional funeral. Our Cost of Funerals research 2026 shows the average cost of a traditional funeral is £4,562, whereas a pure cremation funeral plan costs just £2,095.
Because there’s no hearse, funeral director fees or ceremony at the crematorium, having a direct cremation may mean more money for family or for the send-off.
You can get a quote for a pure cremation if you need to arrange a funeral for someone now. Or you can buy a plan (for yourself or for someone else) that means we will make all the arrangements when the times comes. Our plans can be bought in a single go, or to make them even more affordable, we also have lower monthly instalment options.
Once arranged, you do not need to pay anything else. With other providers, it is worth checking their small print, as they may have additional costs that mean you could pay more than their published prices depending on your circumstances.
Does Pure offer a direct cremation near me?
Yes. We collect someone when they have passed away – from their home or a hospital – anywhere in Britain. We then take them into our care and perform the committal in one of our crematoria. Afterwards, we return the ashes to next of kin, personally and by hand.
The family can arrange a service that’s near them, perhaps somewhere that was a favourite of the deceased.
What do I need to do when someone dies?
When someone dies, there are some practical steps that need to be taken, including things you need to do immediately.
Our free guide on ‘what to do when someone dies’ will tell you everything you need to know and has links to other online useful resources.
How long does the cremation take?
The actual cremation, typically takes around 90 minutes, but may take up to two and a half hours.
The whole service we provide, from collection of the deceased to returning the ashes by hand, typically takes around three weeks.
A local funeral director will usually take longer, because they do not have their own crematorium and so have to book in the cremation with a third party.
The exact length of time the whole service take will depend on how quickly the paperwork is provided by the medical examiner’s office, which is needed before the cremation can take place.