Cost is one of the first things families ask us about, and it is often asked in an apologetic way, as if it is the wrong question to raise so soon. We can assure you, it is not. Knowing what a funeral is likely to cost helps you make calm decisions at a point when very little feels calm, and it is far better to ask us early than to worry about it quietly at home. 

This guide sets out what you pay, when you pay it, and why the figures in Croydon and surrounding areas differ from the national averages you will see elsewhere. 

South London Costs Vs the National Picture 

SunLife publishes its Cost of Dying report each year, and it remains the most reliable industry benchmark we have. The 2026 report puts the average simple attended funeral in the UK at £3,828. Add the send-off, meaning flowers, an order of service and a gathering afterwards, and the typical total rises to around £5,140. 

London sits well above that. The same report puts the average simple attended funeral in the capital at £4,897, the highest of any UK region. 

The difference is mostly driven by third party costs rather than funeral director fees, and burial is where it shows most clearly.  

What Funeral Costs Are Involved? 

It helps to see a funeral not as one bill but as a series of smaller ones, arriving at different points. 

Stage 1: the first few days

  • Registering the death is free. 
  • Additional copies of the death certificate cost around £12.50 each. Most families need several, for banks, pensions and insurers. 
  • Bringing your loved one into our care sits within our funeral director’s fee, not as a separate charge. 
  • Nothing is payable at the point you call us. 

Stage 2: the funeral director’s fee

This is our own charge, and the part of the total we control. It covers: 

  • Care of the person who has died, and use of our chapel of rest. 
  • The coffin. 
  • The hearse and staff on the day. 
  • All the arranging, liaison and paperwork that happens in the background. 

It is also the part that can be adjusted to suit a budget. Our price list sets out what is included at each level. 

Stage 3: disbursements

Costs we pay to other people on your behalf, collected from you and passed straight on with nothing added: 

  • Cremation or burial fees. 
  • The minister or celebrant. 
  • The organist/musician 
  • Doctor’s fees, where they apply. 

This is the part that surprises people most, because disbursements often account for a third or more of the final figure. It is also why a very low headline quote is worth checking carefully. If one quote includes the crematorium fee and another does not, the two are not comparable. 

Stage 4: the day itself

All optional, and entirely your choice: 

  • Flowers. 
  • Additional limousines. 
  • Printed orders of service. 
  • Venue hire and catering for a gathering afterwards. 

The national average spend on this side of things is around £1,312, though we see families spend a great deal less without the day feeling any smaller. 

Stage 5: after the funeral

The stage that catches families out, because it usually arrives months later: 

  • A headstone or memorial, which involves both a cemetery permit and the stonemason’s work. 
  • Interment of ashes, if that is your choice. 
  • Probate fees, which often fall due around the same time. 

Worth knowing about in advance rather than discovering later. 

Local crematorium fees

National averages only take you so far, so here are the figures that actually apply locally. 

Croydon Crematorium on Mitcham Road publishes its charges openly. Under the most recently published schedule: 

  • Weekday attended cremation, 10am to 4pm: £1,056
  • Earlier slot, no service and no mourners: £815
  • Saturday morning: £1,460
  • Unattended direct cremation, 8.15am or 8.30am: £330

The spread between the first and last of those is over £700 at the same crematorium. Time and day of the week make a real difference to what you pay. 

Families in Bromley more often use Beckenham Crematorium, and neighbouring boroughs each set their own rates. Lambeth and West Norwood publish a separate schedule again. A funeral in Croydon and a funeral in Bromley will not cost the same, even where the service is identical. 

Council fees are reviewed every April, so please ask us for the current figure rather than relying on a published PDF from a previous year. 

Burial or cremation

Around three quarters of UK funerals are now cremations, and cost plays a large part in that. Nationally, a simple attended cremation averages about £3,518, against roughly £4,758 for a burial. 

A grave is also not a single payment: 

  • The exclusive right of burial, which is the plot itself. 
  • The interment fee. 
  • Memorial costs, which follow later. 

None of which means burial is the wrong choice. Faith, family tradition, an existing grave, or simply wanting somewhere to visit are all sound reasons, and we would never steer a family away from them. You can read more about both routes in our guide to arranging a funeral and see the memorial options we offer. 

Direct cremation

Direct cremation now averages around £1,628 nationally and is the fastest growing option in the UK. There is no service at the crematorium and no mourners present. The ashes are returned to the family afterwards, and many families then hold a memorial of their own at a time and place that suits them. 

For some families it is exactly the right choice. For others, the absence of a fixed point to gather around is felt later. If cost is the main concern, an early morning attended service is often a better balance. You keep the service, without the peak time fee. 

Ways to keep costs down

  • Ask about early morning or off-peak crematorium slots. This is the single largest saving available. 
  • Choose a simpler coffin. The range between entry level and the top of the range is several hundred pounds. 
  • Reduce or remove the limousines if most people are travelling themselves. 
  • Produce the order of service yourself. 
  • Check whether you qualify for the Funeral Expenses Payment or the Children's Funeral Fund. Many families who are eligible never claim. 
  • Consider a pre-paid funeral plan, which fixes our fees at today's prices. 

Common questions

Disbursements are usually requested in advance, because they are paid to third parties before the day. The remainder is invoiced afterwards. If the timing is difficult, please tell us, as it can often be arranged differently.

Yes. Most banks will release funds directly to a funeral director from the deceased’s account against an invoice, even before probate has been granted.

Usually because of what is and is not included. Always check whether the crematorium fee is part of the price quoted.

Speak to us 

If you would like a clear figure for your own circumstances, please get in touch. We will talk it through, put it in writing, and there is no obligation attached. 

Rowland Brothers has served families across Croydon and South London since 1873. Being straightforward about cost has always been part of that

Rowland Brothers - Croydon - Staff

Author

Steve Rowland,
News and Funerals

Steve Rowland is a funeral professional with over 40 years’ experience supporting families with care and integrity. A key figure at Rowland Brothers Funeral Directors, he also leads global repatriations through Rowland Brothers International and serves as a director of Golden Leaves Funeral Plans. As a founding member of the National Association for Funeral Plan Providers, Steve has championed ethical standards and transparent pre-paid funeral plans while remaining committed to modernising funeral services with respect for tradition.