Manchester · England
A simple, dignified cremation arranged across Manchester and Greater Manchester — handled by trusted local funeral directors and local crematoria, not a centralised national operator.
Trusted across the UK
About our service in Manchester
If you’ve lost someone in Manchester or anywhere across Greater Manchester, we can help you arrange a basic cremation — also known as a direct or unattended cremation. The whole process is taken care of locally: an independent funeral director near you brings your loved one into care at their own funeral home, and the cremation itself takes place at one of the established Greater Manchester crematoria.
Greater Manchester is well served for direct cremation. The historic Manchester Crematorium in Chorlton (the second-oldest in the country, opened in 1892) and Blackley Crematorium in north Manchester between them serve much of the city. Salford, Stockport and Trafford are covered by their own crematoria, and the wider conurbation — Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Tameside, Wigan — has its own facilities too. Your local funeral director arranges the cremation at the appropriate crematorium for your area. Nothing is transported across the country.
The price is £1,499 — a single all-inclusive price covering everything that needs to happen. The team is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If a death has just occurred and you’re not sure what to do, the most useful thing is to pick up the phone.
Pricing in Manchester
The £1,499 price covers collection from a hospital or coroner’s mortuary. Collection from a home, care home or hospice in Manchester or anywhere in Greater Manchester requires a £250 Priority Care collection fee — making the total £1,749. Always explained on the phone before anything happens, never added afterwards.
Local crematoria
We work with Manchester Crematorium, Blackley, Agecroft, Stockport and Altrincham — alongside other established crematoria across the wider Greater Manchester area. Your local funeral director arranges the cremation at the appropriate facility for your area; you’ll know the date and time in advance.
Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 7GZ
Opened in 1892, Manchester Crematorium was the second crematorium ever built in the UK. The Grade II listed Chorlton site sits beside Southern Cemetery, with mature gardens and two chapels.
Victoria Avenue, Blackley, Manchester M9 8JP
The only crematorium owned and operated by Manchester City Council. Opened in 1965, with a recently refurbished centre chapel and two smaller side chapels. Set among gentle hills with views towards the Pennines.
Langley Road, Pendlebury, Swinton, Salford M27 8SS
Salford’s primary crematorium, set within Agecroft (Northern) Cemetery. Serves families across Salford, Eccles, Worsley and the surrounding areas.
Buxton Road, Heaviley, Stockport SK2 6LS
Located on the south side of Stockport, with the Cypress and Rowan chapels. Operated locally and serves Stockport, Cheadle, Marple and the Cheshire borders.
Whitehouse Lane, Dunham Massey, Altrincham WA14 5RH
The crematorium for Trafford borough — covering Altrincham, Sale, Stretford, Urmston and Hale. Trafford’s statutory burial and cremation records are held here.
The exact crematorium used depends on the area of Greater Manchester you’re in, and on availability. The local funeral director arranges this directly and tells you the date and time in advance.
Areas covered
We arrange basic cremations across the whole of Greater Manchester. The £1,499 price is the same in every area.
Don’t see your area? We almost certainly cover it — call us on 0333 242 1405 to check.
What to expect
Five clear steps, taken at your pace, with someone to talk you through every one.
You call us
Day or night. Our team listens and gently takes you through what needs to happen.
Local Manchester care
An independent funeral director near you brings your loved one into their care at their own funeral home.
Paperwork
We help with all legal paperwork and book the cremation at a local crematorium.
Local Greater Manchester cremation
A dignified cremation takes place at one of Greater Manchester's established crematoria.
Ashes returned
The ashes can be returned to you for a memorial of your choosing, or scattered with care.
Collection from Manchester hospitals, care homes and private addresses across Greater Manchester typically happens within hours of your call, day or night. The local funeral director arrives in their own vehicle and brings your loved one into care at their funeral home — never into a centralised facility hundreds of miles away.
Registering a death in Manchester
All deaths that occurred within the City of Manchester must be registered in person at Manchester Register Office in Heron House, on the corner of Albert Square opposite the Town Hall. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8.15am to 3.30pm, with an early close at 1pm on the first Tuesday of each month. A death must normally be registered within 5 days unless the coroner is involved. Importantly: Manchester only registers deaths that occurred within the City of Manchester itself — Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Bury, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale and Wigan each have their own register offices for deaths in their borough. Registration is by appointment only; appointments can only be booked once the Medical Examiner or coroner has released the relevant paperwork to the office. They’ll then email you a booking link. Manchester participates in the Tell Us Once service, which lets you notify most government departments of a death in a single step at the registration appointment.
If your loved one died in hospital, the hospital’s bereavement office handles the paperwork that needs to go to the Medical Examiner before the death can be registered. Your funeral director will normally liaise with them on your behalf.
Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI)
Bereavement Office on Oxford Road, M13 9WL. Call ahead before visiting; the office issues paperwork to the Medical Examiner.
Wythenshawe Hospital
Bereavement Office on Southmoor Road, M23 9LT. Serves south Manchester.
North Manchester General
Bereavement Office on Delaunays Road, Crumpsall, M8 5RB. Serves north Manchester.
Salford Royal
Bereavement Office on Stott Lane, Salford M6 8HD. For Salford-borough deaths.
Stepping Hill Hospital
Bereavement Office on Poplar Grove, Stockport SK2 7JE. For Stockport-borough deaths.
The Christie
Bereavement Office on Wilmslow Road, M20 4BX. The cancer specialist hospital, serving the wider region.
When the coroner is involved
If the death is unexpected, sudden, or the cause is not yet clear, the Medical Examiner may refer the case to HM Coroner for Manchester. This is more common than people expect — around 40% of deaths in England and Wales are referred to a coroner — and it is not a sign that anything is wrong.
The coroner’s role is to confirm the cause of death. Where they conclude the cause is natural, they’ll release the death for registration without further action. If a post-mortem examination is needed, the body is held until the examination is complete; this can add several days. If a full inquest is opened, you don’t need to register the death yourself — the registrar receives the paperwork directly after the inquest concludes.
Throughout this period, you can still appoint a funeral director and start preparing — but the cremation date can only be confirmed once the coroner releases the body. Your funeral director will be familiar with the Manchester coroner’s process and will keep you informed.
Local support
Grief takes time, and there’s no right way to feel. These local services in Greater Manchester provide free, confidential support — whether you need someone to talk to today or in a few months’ time.
A free local service for anyone in Greater Manchester who has been bereaved or affected by a death — regardless of how recent or how long ago. They help match you with the appropriate local support, including counselling, peer support and signposting. Open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Visit websiteThe Manchester branch of the national bereavement charity, offering confidential one-to-one support, telephone support and email support, all free of charge. The national helpline is 0808 808 1677, open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am–5pm, and Tuesday 1pm–8pm.
Visit websiteA self-help organisation for people bereaved by suicide. Provides peer support groups across Greater Manchester and a national helpline. If you’re bereaved by suicide, the GM Bereavement Service can also signpost to specific local support.
Help with funeral costs
If you’re on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It can cover the cost of cremation, basic funeral costs, and up to £1,000 towards other funeral expenses. You can apply by phone or online via gov.uk; the application typically needs to be made within 6 months of the funeral.
Manchester City Council does not run a separate funeral grant scheme, but the council can signpost residents in financial difficulty to other forms of support, including Council Tax exemptions for the deceased’s estate during the administration period. If you’re struggling, Citizens Advice Manchester has a dedicated service for benefits and bereavement-related issues.
If your loved one had no next of kin able to arrange or fund a funeral, the council may arrange a Public Health Funeral (sometimes called a paupers’ funeral) under section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984. This is a last-resort option arranged directly between the council and a contracted funeral director.
We’re not financial advisors and can’t make benefit applications on your behalf, but the team is happy to talk you through what’s available before you commit to anything.
Frequently asked questions
Read more
If you’d like to read more about how a basic cremation works, what your price covers, or what to do in the days after someone has died, these guides are written in plain English.
How it works, why families choose it, and how it differs from a traditional funeral.
Read more →
Every item your £1,499 price covers — and what it doesn’t.
Read more →
The full price, Priority Care collection fee, and help with funeral costs.
Read more →
The practical first steps in the first 24 to 72 hours, depending on where the death took place.
Read the guide →
Registering a death, when the coroner is involved, and other practical guides.
All guides →
The questions families most often ask before arranging a basic cremation.
FAQs →
Other locations
The same simple, dignified £1,499 basic cremation is available across the wider region. If your loved one died outside Manchester itself, the appropriate local funeral director and crematorium will be used.
Basic Cremation in Liverpool
Merseyside
Basic Cremation in Bolton
Greater Manchester
Basic Cremation in Warrington
Cheshire
Basic Cremation in Preston
Lancashire
Basic Cremation in Blackpool
Lancashire
Basic Cremation in Chester
Cheshire
Basic Cremation in Stockport
Greater Manchester
Basic Cremation in Salford
Greater Manchester
Don’t see your area? We cover the wider UK — view all locations or call us on 0333 242 1405.
There's always someone available to talk you through what needs to happen. Calls are answered day and night, every day of the year.
0333 242 1405Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week