An epitaph is a short piece of text that goes on someone’s headstone, often alongside their name, birth date and death date. This guide will offer some guidance on writing an epitaph for a loved one, including some ideas for what you could include.
Traditional funerals are not for everyone, and they can cost quite a lot. There are ways to arrange a simpler, less expensive funeral that’s still just as dignified and personal.
A direct cremation (cremation without a service) is more affordable than a traditional funeral. Paying for a cremation in advance with a funeral plan is a great way to protect against rising costs.
Go boat punting from Magdalen Bridge Boathouse, enjoy a picnic at Christ Church Meadow, or pay a visit to Oxford Botanic Garden to celebrate the life of your loved one.
Enjoy a picnic at Montpelier Gardens, a firework display at Glenfall House, or take to the water with the Boathouse as you celebrate the life of your loved one.
Pay a visit to Kingston Lacy at Brownsea Island, enjoy a picnic at Harbourside Park, or take in the 14th century architecture of Scaplen’s Court as you celebrate the life of your loved one.
It’s an alternative to burial and cremation that people are slowly adopting around the world. Its biggest benefit is that it’s very environmentally friendly. It requires no land space, and creates very few carbon emissions.
Cheer for their football team at People’s Pension Stadium, enjoy a picnic in the beautiful Buchan Country Park, or enjoy a meal at The Hawth theatre as you celebrate the life of your loved one.
Take a picnic basket to Old Durham Gardens or Ushaw historic house and gardens, or enjoy the wildlife and beautiful scenery of Blast Beach as you celebrate the life of your loved one in Durham.
Take in the dramatic views of Kynance Cove, or enjoy a picnic at Trebah or the Lost Gardens Heligan to celebrate the life of your loved one.
Gather with family and friends at the Nottingham Contemporary art gallery, or surround yourself with the beauty of the Arboretum to celebrate the life of your loved one in Nottingham.
Take a journey along the River Severn or wander through the Shrewsbury Museum and art Gallery. There are many unique ways you can celebrate the life of your loved one in Shrewsbury.
Take a walk back through time at the Forge Mill Needle Museum, enjoy the glorious views at the Arrow Valley Visitor Centre, or walk through the woodland trails at Morton Stanley Park and celebrate the life of your loved one.
Take a walk through Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, enjoy a picnic and the views at Bournemouth Parks Lower Gardens, or spend some time at Bournemouth Beach and celebrate the life of your loved one.
Enjoy the art and history at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, or walk through the River Exe County Park, enjoy a picnic and celebrate the life of your loved one.
Enjoy a picnic in Stoke Park, take a walk through the artists’ village in Watts Gallery, or spend some time at Guildford Castle and celebrate the life of your loved one.
Walk through Westgate Gardens, take a tour on the Great Stour River, or spend an afternoon in Westgate Towers and celebrate your loved one with a wake that best celebrates their life.
How to get in touch with us and what to do if your loved one dies in end of life care ('palliative care') at home, hospital, care home or hospice.
You can start preparing to plan the funeral, deal with finances and property, and who you need to inform.
We often help people who sometimes feel unsure whether they are planning a funeral that their loved one would have wanted or they’d like to be remembered. Having conversations with the person now can be a big comfort down the line.
Pay tribute to your loved one with a dedicated memorial bench at Coombe Abbey Park, dedicate a tree to them at War Memorial Park, or enter their name into a Book of Remembrance.
Pay tribute to your loved one with an entry in a Book of Remembrance, a memorial plaque, or even a memorial planter at Gilroes Crematorium in Leicester.
Pay tribute to your loved one with a dedicated memorial bench, a memorial plaque, or even a memorial bird bath in Priory Woods.
Enjoy a meal at Pallant House Gallery, spend an afternoon at South Downs Planetarium, or have coffee and cake at the Boat House Cafe to celebrate the life of your loved one with a unique wake.
Take a walk through the Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery, enjoy the scenery and a picnic at Eastrop Park, or stroll through the Crabtree Plantation and celebrate the life of your loved one with a unique wake.
Pay tribute to your loved one with a granite leaf on the Millennium Cemetery’s mulberry tree, an entry in the Book of Remembrance, or a memorial plaque.
Enjoy a cruise on the River Ouse, have a picnic at Rowntree Park, or immerse yourself in medieval history in Barley Hall as you celebrate the life of your loved one.
Enjoy a walk up Brandon Hill, take a boat ride across the canal, or pay a visit to Arnolfini Harbourside Bar to celebrate the life of your loved one with a unique wake that would suit them best.
Enjoy an afternoon at Temple Newsam, watch Leeds United play at Elland Road, or enjoy a walk around Leeds city museum and celebrate the life of your loved one with a unique wake.
Take a walk through Horton Park, enjoy a picnic at Lister Park, or cheer on Bradford at their football ground and celebrate the life of your loved one with a wake unique to them.
Cheer on Newcastle at the Nine bar, walk around the Town Moor, or enjoy a picnic at Long Sands Beach and celebrate the life of your loved one with a meaningful and unique wake.
This guide will give some practical guidance on how you could cater for different types of end-of-life events, including how to decide who is in charge and what to do if you’re on a smaller budget.
When you’re organising a funeral for someone close to you, it can feel like there’s a lot to do at an emotional time. Breaking it down into smaller tasks may help you keep track of where you are with your planning.
A memorial can be something to look at or hold, a special place you visit, a one-off event, or something you do regularly (a ritual).
Enjoy a picnic in Sheffield’s stunning botanical garden, take a cruise along the scenic Sheffield and Tinsley canal, or enjoy a meal at the famous Bramall Lane to celebrate the life of your loved one.
Take a stroll through the rainforest glasshouses of the Botanical Gardens, enjoy a private tour of St Andrew’s Stadium or take a peaceful canal ride down one of Birmingham's many canals while you celebrate the life of your loved one.
A tree pod burial means burying a body in a capsule in the earth and planting a tree above it. The idea is still in development and not available in the UK yet.
This guide will tell you everything you need to know about what to wear to a funeral: from traditional ceremonies to more modern celebration of life events. It includes advice on what to do if you’re unable to meet the dress code.
Your loved one’s circle of friends and the size of the funeral you’re holding will influence how you notify people. It’s likely to be a mix of phone calls, emails and social media.
Cheer on the football at Old Trafford, enjoy a picnic and a walk at Alexandra Park, or soak up the art on offer at Manchester Art Gallery and celebrate the life of your loved one.
Cheer for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light, enjoy a picnic at the sprawling, beautiful Roker Park, or have a few drinks at the unique and modern Art Centre Washington as you celebrate the life of your loved one in Sunderland.
Take a walk around their favourite gardens at Moor Park, or enjoy a ride along the river Ribble in a steam train. Whatever you choose, there are many unique ways you can celebrate the life of your loved one in Preston.
There’s a growing number of professional funeral photographers, and it’s perfectly fine to hire one if it feels right for you and your family.
Here we explain how the UK government can support you if you’re struggling to pay for a funeral, with guidance on how to apply.
Muslim funerals are large community events. It’s common for every member of the mosque to attend, even if they did not know the person who died.
Followers of Mormonism believe that they’ll see their loved ones again in the afterlife. So although Mormon funerals tend to be serious, there’s an undertone of hope and celebration.
Buddhist monks often lead Buddhist funerals. They take place at a Buddhist temple or the family’s home.
The main difference is that churchyards are attached to Christian churches. Cemeteries and graveyards might not be attached to a church.
Typically it takes one to two weeks to arrange a funeral. Getting the paperwork sorted, gathering family together in one place and making choices about the service are some of the things that affect the time it takes.
You do not legally have to have a funeral in the UK - lots of people do not want a funeral, and that’s OK. But you do have to register the death, and either cremate or bury the body.
This article will explain how a memorial service is different to other types of end-of-life events, and how you might plan a memorial service for a loved one.
A funeral director is someone who specialises in arranging funerals. Arranging a funeral without one is not impossible, but it is very difficult.
Funerals are more expensive in some parts of the UK than others. They can also be more expensive on weekends, and at certain times of the day.
Cheer for their football team at the Crucial Environmental Stadium, enjoy a picnic in the beautiful Highdown Gardens, or take in the views from Worthing Pier while enjoying afternoon tea at the Pavilion Atrium.
Enjoy a picnic at Oak Hill Park, cheer for their favourite team at the Crown Ground, or enjoy an afternoon tea at the Gallery Kitchen in Haworth Art Gallery to celebrate the life of your loved one.
Take a private boat cruise on the River Severn, enjoy a picnic in the Town Park, or take some time to reflect in the Quiet Park as you celebrate your loved one’s life in Telford.
There are a few ways to establish a memorial for your loved one in Liverpool, from interring their ashes at Colonnade Wall at Anfield to placing a memorial plaque at a crematorium.
Pay tribute to your loved one with a dedicated rose bush, leaf of remembrance, or message in a book of remembrance in Southend-on-Sea.
After speaking to two thousand people about how they feel about dying, we’ve put together a report that looks at attitudes to life, death and everything in between.
If you can’t afford to pay for a funeral, you may be able to claim a Funeral Expenses Payment from the government. Other options include using the bank account of the person who died and arranging a Public Health Funeral.
Celebrate the life of your loved one by cheering for Cambridge United at Abbey Stadium, gathering friends for a picnic under the trees at Cambridge University Botanic Garden, or by enjoying an afternoon tea while cruising down the River Cam.
Cheer for their football team at Amex Stadium, enjoy a picnic in the beautiful grounds of Regency Garden at the Royal Pavilion, or take in the views over Brighton at the British Airways i360 viewing tower as you celebrate the life of your loved one.
If you're looking to celebrate a loved one or organise a service, online tools can help make the process simpler, faster and more collaborative. We put together a list of the online memorial spaces and planning hubs we’d recommend to you and your family.
Who has the right to arrange your funeral depends on whether you’ve left a will. In practice, it’s likely to be your closest family members who make the decisions.
A traditional Catholic funeral has a distinct three-part structure to the ceremony, including the vigil, funeral liturgy and the committal. There’s a focus on praying for the person who’s died and supporting their family.
Funeral etiquette means things like what to wear, whether to send flowers and where to sit. Every funeral is different depending on the family’s wishes, but generally the more traditional it is, the more specific the etiquette.
An obituary is a statement you post about someone’s life, usually in a newspaper, to let the wider community know that they’ve died.
An Order of Service is a booklet outlining the structure and content of an end-of-life event. They originated at Christian funerals, and included what hymns and readings would be performed at the service.
If you have specific ideas on what you want to happen after you die, planning your own funeral and sharing the plan with your loved ones is a good idea. But no one can guarantee it will happen exactly as you plan it.
You can register a death by visiting your local register office. This usually needs to be done within five days of the death in England and Wales. It’s free to register a death, but there’s a fee for each copy of the death certificate.
A eulogy usually includes a timeline of the person’s life and details about their personality. Family or friends might ask you to read one at their funeral or cremation if you were close to them. But there are no set rules about who reads it.
Most funeral directors and religious venues will offer a funeral on a Saturday or Sunday, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind.
A pallbearer is someone who escorts the coffin at a funeral and (if there is one) at a burial, too. They’ll either carry the coffin, move it along on a wheeled trolley called a bier, or walk with it as other people move it.
This guide will go through all the things that affect a funeral’s length so that you know what to plan for.
A funeral celebrant is a person hired to plan and run a funeral service. Before the service they spend time finding out about the life, interests and beliefs of the person who has died and create a service that fits them.
We’ll cover what a funeral procession is, where they come from and why they happen. We’ll also go through how to take part in one and what to do if you come across one.
A woodland burial is the choice to bury someone at a site of natural beauty, such as a woodland, meadow or orchard, instead of a traditional cemetery plot.
A lot of people choose to put something special in their loved one’s coffin, but not everything’s allowed. So what can you include and what should you leave out?
You can scatter ashes by casting them into the wind from a scattering tube. Other options include creating a colourful garden feature or scattering the ashes at the beach and letting the tide wash them away.
Ashes can be scattered almost anywhere in the UK, as long as you have permission from the landowner first. If you’re thinking about scattering ashes at sea or on a river, you don’t need a permit, but you should follow the Environment Agency’s guidance.
From live streaming funerals to delayed memorial services, there are plenty of options available when it comes to arranging a funeral during the coronavirus lockdown.
With social distancing being enforced across the country, many families are confused about their options when it comes to arranging a funeral. Here, we cover the most common questions customers have been asking over the last few weeks.
A humanist funeral service is a type of non-religious ceremony celebrating the life of someone who has died. This may be led by a humanist celebrant, or you could simply arrange your own non-religious memorial with your loved one’s ashes present.
You can arrange an unattended cremation over the phone in just a few minutes. Your loved one will then be collected from their place of death and cremated without a ceremony at a crematorium.
You can delay someone’s funeral by arranging an unattended cremation immediately after their death. Then, once their ashes have been returned to you, you’re free to have the memorial service at a time that’s right for you and your family.
A funeral director is responsible for arranging every part of a funeral, including the coffin, ceremony and the burial or cremation. But if you would prefer something less traditional, you could arrange the funeral yourself without a funeral director.
A funeral in the UK can cost up to £10,000 depending on the type of service you want. At an average of £5,000, a traditional burial is the most expensive option, while a direct cremation is the cheapest.
Cremation has been a funeral option in the UK for over 150 years, but it still remains a mystery to many people. Here, we look at exactly what happens at a cremation so you and your family know what to expect.
If you’re arranging a funeral for someone, you’ll probably want to start by working out what they wanted. This might be something they included in their will. You can then shop around for a service that feels right for everyone.
After receiving the ashes from a cremation, many families arrange their own personal memorial service. You’re then free to display or scatter the ashes anywhere you wish – or you could even create a series of mementos for your family.
If you’ve recently lost a loved one and have been looking into arranging a funeral, you may have seen the term ‘direct cremation’ online. Here, we’ll explain what it is, why it’s different to a traditional cremation and how you can arrange one.
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