A Direct Cremation Plan
A Cremation Only plan (often known as a direct cremation) is a simple, low-cost way to say goodbye.
The cremation takes place at the crematorium without a service or mourners present. If the family wish, they can arrange their own goodbye in a way that is more personal and unique to you.
This plan is available in mainland Great Britain only.
The Cremation Only Plan includes:
Unattended cremation at an appointed crematorium
Cremation fees
Appointed Funeral Director attending to all the necessary arrangements prior to and on the day of the unattended cremation
Collection and transportation of the deceased from a place of residence, a care home, hospital or resting place in mainland Great Britain to the appointed Funeral Director within mainland Great Britain
Preparation and care of the deceased at a private centralised mortuary
Scattering the ashes in the garden of remembrance or collection of the ashes by the family from the crematorium
Supply of a simple wood effect coffin - suitable for cremation
Avalon LifeLocker
The Cremation Only Plan excludes:
Any services for a Funeral Director not appointed by Avalon
Face to face appointments with the Funeral Director
Family attendance at the crematorium
Additional venue costs to host the event or a service, including a church service
Any disbursement allowances other than those listed in the inclusions
Out of pocket expenses or transport costs for celebrants or ministers
A wake, including the costs associated with catering for the funeral congregation/guests
Obituary notices posted in the media
Flowers, floral tributes, or any items requested in celebration of the deceased
Memorial casket, urn, or scatter tube
Burial or interment plot – a plot of land purchased to be used for ashes
Headstone, memorials, or associated costs for stonework and erection thereof
Gifts, including charitable donations
Cost incurred for the upkeep and maintenance of a memorial
Traditional hearse or other procession transportation for the deceased
Limousine/s for the transportation of funeral guests on the day of the funeral
List of funeral guests who sent flowers and charitable donations
Use of chapel of rest for viewing the deceased
Hymn cards and order of service
Audio or visual equipment
Interment or distribution of ashes
Repatriation from outside of mainland Great Britain
Transfers between mainland Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Traditional motor hearse or Cortege from the mortuary to the Crematorium on the day of the funeral
Dressing of the deceased in personal clothes or inclusion of items within the coffin
Embalming and additional preparation, such as the removal of a pacemaker
Doctor’s fees
Return of ashes directly to the family
This plan does not include a separate allowance for Disbursements. There may be extra charges at the time of the funeral for other items not covered by the plan. Please see full Terms and Conditions for details.
How would you like to pay
Avalon offer a range of flexible payment options, you can decide how and when to pay for your funeral plan. Make a one off payment or opt to spread the cost, the choice is yours.
The instalment illustration is calculated based on 5.2% Instalment Fee.
The Price of a Funeral
The UK Cremation Only Plan price of 1,485 GBP compares to the current average price of an ‘at need’ funeral price should you require a similar funeral today.
At time of sale, Avalon will allocate your plan to a specific Funeral Director(s) and have negotiated a wholesale price for the costs of provision of your funeral. These wholesale costs to Avalon vary, for example, by region and plan type but on average are for this plan are 1,439 GBP + annual uplift for inflation at today’s prices.
Unlike the plan price you pay which is fixed, the at need price today is likely to rise with inflation each year until you need a funeral. These wholesale costs to Avalon are also uplifted for inflation each year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a direct cremation?
Avalon’s Cremation Only Plan provides a direct cremation. A direct cremation is a low-cost alternative to a traditional funeral and is ideal for those with a smaller budget or looking for a simpler send-off.
The deceased will be carefully and respectfully taken from their place of rest to the crematorium for cremation. There will be no ceremony or mourners present. The ashes are then returned to your loved ones.
If they wish, family members can choose to arrange their own celebration of life service however and wherever you or they wish.
Avalon’s Cremation Only Plan provides a direct cremation.
If instead you would prefer a simple cremation service where your loved ones can attend, our Celebration Funeral Plan might be the right plan for you.
Is a direct cremation right for you?
Direct cremation funerals are different from traditional funerals as the cremation takes place without a service or mourners present. This makes direct cremation pre-paid plans a more affordable option.
Family members can choose to arrange their own send off to celebrate your life in a way that is unique and personal to you.
While direct cremation is a low-cost option, some people may find a traditional funeral an important part of the grieving process.
If you are thinking of a direct cremation, Avalon’s Cremation Only Plan could be the plan you’re looking for, but , it’s important to think carefully about your wishes and discuss it with your loved ones to ensure you get the funeral you wish for.
Do you have to have a funeral service?
Legally, there is no requirement for a funeral service. However, when someone dies, their body must be disposed of safely. In most cases, this is through cremation or burial.
That means that even if you don’t want the fuss of a ceremony when you die, your family or friends will still have to make arrangements and pay for a cremation or burial.
Taking care of these costs in advance with a funeral plan allows you to pay for the costs at today’s prices and means your loved ones won’t have to find the money when the time comes.
Where will the direct cremation take place?
The cremation take place at a crematorium without a service or mourners present. The ashes of your loved one are then returned to you.
Are there any additional costs?
The Cremation Only Plan is fully guaranteed – which means that all the essential cremation services and third-party costs are included in the plan with no more to pay.
See the “The Cremation Only Plan excludes” section above to understand what additional extras you can add to the Plan and the costs for these.
What is a direct cremation?
Is a direct cremation right for you?
Do you have to have a funeral service?
Where will the direct cremation take place?
Are there any additional costs?
Avalon’s Cremation Only Plan provides a direct cremation. A direct cremation is a low-cost alternative to a traditional funeral and is ideal for those with a smaller budget or looking for a simpler send-off.
The deceased will be carefully and respectfully taken from their place of rest to the crematorium for cremation. There will be no ceremony or mourners present. The ashes are then returned to your loved ones.
If they wish, family members can choose to arrange their own celebration of life service however and wherever you or they wish.
Avalon’s Cremation Only Plan provides a direct cremation.
If instead you would prefer a simple cremation service where your loved ones can attend, our Celebration Funeral Plan might be the right plan for you.
Direct cremation funerals are different from traditional funerals as the cremation takes place without a service or mourners present. This makes direct cremation pre-paid plans a more affordable option.
Family members can choose to arrange their own send off to celebrate your life in a way that is unique and personal to you.
While direct cremation is a low-cost option, some people may find a traditional funeral an important part of the grieving process.
If you are thinking of a direct cremation, Avalon’s Cremation Only Plan could be the plan you’re looking for, but , it’s important to think carefully about your wishes and discuss it with your loved ones to ensure you get the funeral you wish for.
Legally, there is no requirement for a funeral service. However, when someone dies, their body must be disposed of safely. In most cases, this is through cremation or burial.
That means that even if you don’t want the fuss of a ceremony when you die, your family or friends will still have to make arrangements and pay for a cremation or burial.
Taking care of these costs in advance with a funeral plan allows you to pay for the costs at today’s prices and means your loved ones won’t have to find the money when the time comes.
The cremation take place at a crematorium without a service or mourners present. The ashes of your loved one are then returned to you.
The Cremation Only Plan is fully guaranteed – which means that all the essential cremation services and third-party costs are included in the plan with no more to pay.
See the “The Cremation Only Plan excludes” section above to understand what additional extras you can add to the Plan and the costs for these.
Speak to our funeral plan specialists
You can find out more and buy an Avalon UK funeral plan over the phone, or on a video call from the comfort of your own home.
Fill in the form to get a call back from one of our friendly funeral plan specialists. They can help you arrange an appointment to discuss your plan needs in more detail.
Find out more about our ways to buy a UK funeral plan
Contacting us from Europe?
Looking for a different plan?
We offer a range of flexible funeral plans for cremation and burial, designed to give you and your family peace of mind. Take a look at and compare our most popular plans or why not customise your very own funeral plan.
Celebration Plan
£2795This plan includes a simple family led service at your chosen crematorium
Monthly instalments from £27.05 Total Payable £4928.30
Standard Funeral Plan
£3745This plan covers the services of a funeral director, a coffin and hearse
Monthly instalments from £36.45 Total Payable £6619.30
Plus Funeral Plan
£4095The Standard Plan, plus one limousine and the option to visit your loved one in a chapel of rest
Monthly instalments from £39.71 Total Payable £7226.70
Premium Funeral Plan
£4345This plan includes a quality coffin, two limousines and some extra personal touches.
Monthly instalments from £41.98 Total Payable £7656.10
The Avalon Promise provides extra peace of mind for you and your family
If you choose to pay for your funeral plan in instalments, you can benefit from the Avalon Promise. Avalon will still provide all the services included in your plan if you pass away before your plan is fully paid if:
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You die as a result of an accident at any time
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Your plan has been in place for 12 months for a UK plan or 18 months for one of our Europe plans
This means your loved ones won’t have to make up the difference for the cost of the services in the plan and can focus on celebrating your life, instead of worrying about finding the money to pay for your funeral.
Find more information about the Avalon Promise.
Full Avalon Promise terms, conditions and exclusions can be found in the UK plan Terms and Conditions and Europe plan Terms and Conditions
Why choose Avalon?
Award-winning funeral plan provider
Our plans are award-winning. We’ve been voted the 'Best Funeral Plan Provider' at the Personal Finance Awards every year since 2019.
Avalon Promise for extra peace of mind
If you pass away before your plan is fully paid Avalon will still provide all the services in your plan once you’ve had your plan for 12 months in the UK or 18 months in the EU.
Rated excellent by our customers on Trustpilot
We have over 3,000 reviews on Trustpilot and are rated 'Excellent' by our customers. For over 25 years we’ve helped over 100,000 people feel reassured their funeral is planned and paid for.
Local funeral directors
We work with local funeral directors to provide the funeral when the time comes. You can be sure that every one of the funeral directors in our network - 1,800 funeral directors in the UK and over 70 funeral directors in over 600 locations across Spain, Cyprus and Portugal - will deliver the high standards and personalised service you expect, and you and your family deserve.
Real reviews from real customers
More than 100,000 people have planned with Avalon
Our team of experts are here to help you and your loved ones when you need it most.
But don’t just take our word for it - we're rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot with more than 3,000 five-star reviews from real customers. Avalon has been voted best funeral plan provider 3 years running, established for over 25 years and with over 100,000 customers all happy in the knowledge that their funerals are planned and paid for.
