Losing someone close to you can be one of the most difficult experiences you'll ever face. During such an emotional time, knowing what needs to happen next can feel overwhelming. Whether the death occurred at home, in hospital, in a care home or elsewhere, there are organisations across Barnet that can provide practical help and support.
This page has been created to guide you through the services available within the London Borough of Barnet. Here you'll find information about bereavement services, cemeteries, the Coroner, crematoriums, funeral directors, hospitals and the Register Office, together with helpful guidance to support you through every stage of arranging a funeral.
Barnet is the largest London borough by population and includes communities such as Barnet, Finchley, Hendon, Edgware, Golders Green, Colindale, Mill Hill, Friern Barnet and East Barnet.
It is home to people from many different faiths and cultures, and local bereavement services are experienced in supporting religious, non-religious and personalised funeral arrangements.
Whether you're arranging a burial, cremation or direct cremation, or simply looking for clear advice after the death of a loved one, we hope this guide helps make a difficult time a little easier.
Barnet Council provides bereavement services through its Cemeteries and Crematorium Team, supporting families with burial enquiries, cemetery services, memorials and grave ownership matters. The team works closely with funeral directors, hospitals and the Register Office to help ensure funeral arrangements run as smoothly as possible.
Bereavement Services can help with:
Address Barnet Bereavement Services
Barnet House
1255 High Road
Whetstone
London N20 0EJ
Telephone020 8359 7999
Emailbereavement.services@barnet.gov.uk
Websitehttps://www.barnet.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-marriages/deaths-and-bereavement
Opening HoursMonday to Friday
9:00am – 5:00pm
DescriptionBarnet Bereavement Services provides advice and support relating to burials, cremations, memorials and cemetery services. The team can help with grave ownership enquiries, burial bookings and general guidance following a bereavement.
Barnet Council manages several cemeteries and works closely with Hendon Cemetery and Crematorium. If you're unsure which burial or cremation option is right for your loved one, Bereavement Services can explain the choices available and answer any questions you may have. If you're arranging a funeral through a funeral director, they will normally liaise directly with Bereavement Services to complete the necessary bookings.
If your loved one had previously mentioned where they wished to be buried or cremated, let your funeral director know as early as possible. Availability can vary, and discussing your preferences at the beginning of the arrangements gives you the widest choice of dates and venues.
Barnet Council manages several cemeteries across the borough, providing burial plots, the interment of cremated remains and memorial facilities. The borough is also home to one of London's largest cemetery and crematorium sites, serving families of all faiths and beliefs.
For enquiries about burials, grave ownership, memorial permits or cemetery records, please contact Barnet Bereavement Services.
Telephone: 020 8359 7999
Email:bereavement.services@barnet.gov.uk
Address Holders Hill Road
Mill Hill
London NW7 1NB
Telephone020 8203 4921
Websitehttps://www.barnet.gov.uk/cemeteries-crematorium
Opening Hours Please check the official Barnet Council website for current cemetery and office opening times.
DescriptionOpened in 1903, Hendon Cemetery is Barnet's principal municipal cemetery. It provides traditional burial plots, cremated remains plots, memorial gardens and serves families from across Barnet and neighbouring boroughs. The cemetery includes dedicated areas for a number of faith communities and is set within attractive landscaped grounds.
Address122 East End Road
East Finchley
London N2 0RZTelephone020 8359 7999Websitehttps://www.barnet.gov.uk/cemeteries-crematoriumOpening HoursPlease check the official Barnet Council website.DescriptionEast Finchley Cemetery provides burial facilities together with memorial options in a peaceful setting. It continues to serve local families and is maintained by Barnet Council.
AddressHoop Lane
Golders Green
London NW11 7NLTelephonePlease contact the United Synagogue.Websitehttps://www.theus.org.ukDescriptionGolders Green Jewish Cemetery is a significant Jewish burial ground serving the local Jewish community. Burial arrangements are made through the relevant Jewish burial society or synagogue.
Barnet offers a range of burial options, including new graves, reopened family graves and the interment of cremated remains. Memorial permits and grave ownership enquiries are handled by Bereavement Services.If you're considering reopening an existing family grave, the registered grave owner's permission is normally required before arrangements can proceed.
If you're planning a burial, ask whether there are any residency requirements or eligibility criteria for purchasing a new grave. Some cemeteries give priority to borough residents or charge different fees for those living outside the area.
Some deaths must be reported to the Coroner. This usually happens when the cause of death is unknown, the death was sudden or unexpected, occurred following an accident or injury, or happened while the person was in state care or custody.The Coroner is an independent judicial officer whose role is to establish who has died, and when, where and how they came by their death. In some cases, the Coroner may order a post-mortem examination or hold an inquest before the death can be registered.
Address29 Wood Street
High Barnet
Hertfordshire EN5 4BETelephone020 8447 7680Emailenquiries.northlondon@coronerservice.haringey.gov.ukWebsitehttps://www.haringey.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-citizenship/coroners-serviceOpening HoursMonday to Friday
9:00am – 4:30pmAreas CoveredThe North London Coroner's Service covers:
The service is administered by the London Borough of Haringey on behalf of the five boroughs.
If a death is referred to the Coroner:
Most deaths referred to the Coroner do not require an inquest. Many cases are concluded after medical enquiries or a post-mortem examination, allowing the funeral arrangements to proceed without significant delay.If your loved one has been referred to the Coroner, your chosen funeral director can liaise directly with the Coroner's Office and keep you updated throughout the process.
Waiting for the Coroner can be one of the hardest parts of arranging a funeral because it often feels like everything is on hold. Try not to worry if there are delays—your funeral director will usually be able to start planning the funeral while the Coroner completes their enquiries, helping everything move forward as soon as permission is given.
Barnet is home to Hendon Cemetery & Crematorium, one of London's largest and most established crematoriums. It provides cremation services for people of all faiths and beliefs, as well as non-religious ceremonies. The crematorium offers modern facilities, two chapels and a range of memorial options to help families remember their loved ones.
AddressHolders Hill Road
Mill Hill
London NW7 1NBTelephone020 8359 3370EmailHendonCemeteryandCrematorium@barnet.gov.ukWebsitehttps://www.barnet.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-certificates/deaths/cremationsOpening HoursOfficeMonday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pmCremation Services
The cemetery grounds are generally open from 8:30am, with seasonal closing times.
Hendon Cemetery & Crematorium offers:
Your funeral director will normally arrange the cremation booking directly with the crematorium and advise you of the available dates and service times.After the cremation, you can choose to collect the ashes, have them interred within the cemetery grounds, scatter them in an authorised memorial area, or take them elsewhere if that reflects your loved one's wishes.
There is no right or wrong decision about what to do with cremated remains. Some families keep them for a while before deciding, while others already know exactly what their loved one wanted. Take your time—you don't have to make every decision on the day of the funeral.
Choosing a funeral director is a personal decision. They can guide you through every stage of arranging a funeral, from bringing your loved one into their care to organising the funeral service, transport, paperwork and memorial options.Many funeral directors offer traditional burials, cremations, direct cremations, eco-friendly funerals and personalised celebrations of life. If you're unsure which funeral director to choose, it's perfectly acceptable to speak with several before making your decision.
Address263 East Barnet Road
Barnet EN4 8SXTelephone020 8440 1413Websitehttps://www.churchillsfuneraldirectors.co.uk
Address103 Wood Street
Barnet EN5 4BXTelephone020 8449 3578Websitehttps://www.jaclarkfunerals.co.uk
AddressLaurel House
12 Woodside Lane
North Finchley
London N12 8RGTelephone020 8137 8400Websitehttps://www.mmbroadandson.co.uk
Address74 High Street
Chipping Barnet EN5 5SNTelephone020 8131 4941Websitehttps://www.funeralcare.coop/funeral-directors/barnet/74-high-street
Address16–18 Church Hill Road
East Barnet EN4 8TBTelephone020 8441 6062Websitehttps://www.brooksfamilyfunerals.co.uk
The funeral directors listed on this page are provided for information only to help you find local services in your area.The Funeral Companion does not endorse, recommend or affiliate with any funeral director listed. We do not receive commission or payment for including a business on our website, and listings are not ranked in any order of preference.We encourage you to contact more than one funeral director, compare the services they offer and obtain written quotations before making your decision. The choice of funeral director is entirely yours.
Most funeral directors are available 24 hours a day to bring your loved one into their care. They can also arrange viewings, help with service planning, organise flowers and transport, and liaise with the cemetery, crematorium, Coroner and Register Office on your behalf.
Don't feel under pressure to choose the first funeral director you contact. Speaking to two or three different companies can help you compare services, costs and the level of support they offer, allowing you to choose the one that feels right for you and your family.
If your loved one dies in hospital, the hospital's Bereavement Office will guide you through the next steps. This usually includes explaining the Medical Examiner process, advising when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) has been completed, and letting you know when you can arrange to register the death.Hospital staff will also answer any questions you may have and, where appropriate, liaise with the Coroner if the death needs to be referred.
AddressWellhouse Lane
Barnet
Hertfordshire EN5 3DJTelephone020 3758 2000Websitehttps://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/hospitals/barnet-hospitalDescriptionBarnet Hospital is part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and provides emergency, medical, surgical and specialist services to patients across Barnet and surrounding areas.The hospital has a dedicated Bereavement Office, Medical Examiner Service and Mortuary Team to support families following the death of a loved one.
Telephone020 8216 4701Opening HoursMonday to Friday
9:00am – 4:00pmThe Bereavement Office will explain what happens next, help with documentation and let you know when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been completed and sent to the Register Office.
Following a death, an independent Medical Examiner reviews the medical records and the proposed cause of death. You will usually be offered the opportunity to speak with the Medical Examiner's Office, ask questions and raise any concerns before the death is registered.This process helps ensure the cause of death is accurate and provides an opportunity for families to better understand what happened.
If the death needs to be referred to the Coroner, the Bereavement Office will explain what happens next and keep you informed. If the death is not referred, they will let you know when you can book your appointment with the Register Office.Your chosen funeral director can usually begin making provisional funeral arrangements while the paperwork is being completed.
It can take a few days before you're contacted by the Bereavement Office, particularly if the Medical Examiner needs to review the records. If you're unsure what's happening, don't hesitate to give them a call—they understand this is a difficult time and are there to help answer your questions.
The death of a loved one should normally be registered within five days in England and Wales, unless the death has been referred to the Coroner.Before you can register the death, the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) must have been completed by the doctor and reviewed by the Medical Examiner, or the Coroner must have issued the necessary paperwork.
AddressBarnet House
1255 High Road
Whetstone
London N20 0EJTelephone020 8359 6400Emailregister.office@barnet.gov.ukWebsitehttps://www.barnet.gov.uk/births-deaths-and-marriages/register-deathOpening HoursMonday to Friday
9:00am – 5:00pmAppointmentsDeath registrations are by appointment only. Once the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been received electronically, you can book an appointment with the Register Office.
The registrar will ask for information about the person who has died, including:
If you don't know every detail, don't worry. The registrar will guide you through the process.
During your appointment, the registrar will:
Additional certified copies can be purchased during your appointment or ordered later if required for banks, pension providers, insurers or probate.
The Tell Us Once service allows several government organisations to be notified of the death through one process, including:
Using this free service can save you time and reduce the number of organisations you need to contact individually.
If the death has been referred to the Coroner, the registration process may differ. The Coroner's Office will advise you when the death can be registered and will send the necessary documentation directly to the Register Office.If the death occurred at Barnet Hospital, the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death is usually sent electronically to the Register Office, so there is normally no paperwork for you to collect before your appointment.
Before you leave the Register Office, ask how many certified copies of the death certificate you may need. While many organisations now accept electronic notification, some banks, pension providers and legal services still require an official certified copy, and ordering them during your appointment is often the most convenient and cost-effective option.