Losing someone close to you can be one of life's most difficult experiences. 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 Camden that can provide practical help and support.This page has been created to guide you through the services available within the London Borough of Camden. 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.Camden is a diverse borough in North London, including areas such as Camden Town, Hampstead, Kentish Town, Highgate (part), Holborn, King's Cross, Gospel Oak, Belsize Park, West Hampstead and Swiss Cottage. It is home to people from many different faiths, cultures and communities, 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.
Camden Council works with neighbouring boroughs and specialist providers to support families with burial, cremation and memorial enquiries. Bereavement Services can provide advice on cemetery services, grave ownership, memorial permits and burial arrangements, while your funeral director can assist with booking funeral services and liaising with the relevant authorities.
Bereavement Services can help with:
Address London Borough of Camden
5 Pancras Square
London N1C 4AG
Telephone020 7974 4444
Website https://www.camden.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-and-citizenship
Opening Hours Monday to Friday
9:00am – 5:00pm
DescriptionCamden Council provides advice and guidance on bereavement services, cemetery enquiries and death registration. The council works closely with funeral directors, hospitals and the Register Office to support families through the practical arrangements following a bereavement.
Although Camden has limited council-managed cemetery provision within the borough itself, many Camden residents choose nearby cemeteries and crematoriums in neighbouring boroughs. Your funeral director can help you explore the available options based on your loved one's wishes and your family's preferences. If you're unsure where to start, Camden Council can direct you to the appropriate service and explain the options available.
If your loved one didn't leave funeral wishes, don't worry. Many families have to make these decisions together. Focus on choosing something that reflects their personality and values rather than worrying about getting every detail "perfect".
Camden has relatively few council-managed burial grounds within the borough itself. Many residents choose burial in nearby cemeteries managed jointly with neighbouring councils or in surrounding London boroughs. Camden Council can provide guidance on burial options, grave ownership and memorial enquiries.
Address278 High Road
East Finchley
London N2 9AG
Telephone020 7527 8300
Websitehttps://www.islingtonandcamdencemeteries.org
DescriptionSaint Pancras and Islington Cemetery is one of London's largest municipal cemeteries and is jointly owned by Camden and Islington Councils. It offers traditional burials, interment of cremated remains, memorial gardens and a wide range of memorial options for families.
AddressFortune Green Road
London NW6 1DR
Telephone020 7527 8300
Website https://www.islingtonandcamdencemeteries.org
Description
Hampstead Cemetery is another cemetery managed by the Islington and Camden Cemetery Service. It provides burial plots, cremated remains plots and peaceful landscaped surroundings for visitors paying their respects.
Camden residents are not restricted to cemeteries within the borough. Your funeral director can advise on the most appropriate cemetery based on your loved one's wishes, family grave ownership or preferred location. If you're considering reopening an existing family grave, the registered grave owner (or their legal successor) will normally need to give permission before arrangements can be made.
If your family already has a grave, ask your funeral director to check whether it can be reopened before purchasing a new burial plot. Reusing a family grave can sometimes honour previous wishes and may also reduce the overall cost of the funeral.
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.
AddressCamley Street
London N1C 4PPTelephone020 7974 4545Emailcoroner.stpancras@camden.gov.ukWebsitehttps://www.camden.gov.uk/coroners-serviceOpening HoursOffice visits: Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 4:00pmTelephone enquiries: Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 1:00pm and 2:00pm – 3:30pm
The Inner North London Coroner's Service covers:
The service is led by His Majesty's Senior Coroner for Inner North London and investigates deaths that occur within the jurisdiction or where the deceased is brought into the area.
If a death is referred to the Coroner:
Most deaths reported to the Coroner do not result in an inquest. Many are concluded after medical enquiries or a post-mortem examination. If your loved one's death has been referred to the Coroner, it's best not to confirm a funeral date until your funeral director or the Coroner's Office advises that the necessary permissions have been given. Your funeral director can usually begin making provisional arrangements in the meantime.
Waiting for the Coroner's decision can feel frustrating, especially when you're keen to make funeral arrangements. Try not to worry if things take a little longer than expected. Your funeral director will keep in regular contact with the Coroner's Office and let you know as soon as everything is in place so you can move forward.
Although Camden does not operate its own crematorium, residents have several well-established crematoriums nearby. Your funeral director can help you choose the most suitable venue based on your loved one's wishes, location and preferred date.Many Camden families choose crematoriums in neighbouring boroughs, all of which offer services for people of all faiths and beliefs, as well as non-religious ceremonies.
Address62 Hoop Lane
Golders Green
London NW11 7NLTelephone020 8455 2374Websitehttps://www.goldersgreencrematorium.orgDescriptionOpened in 1902, Golders Green Crematorium was the first crematorium in London and remains one of the most well-known in the country. It offers several chapels, beautiful memorial gardens and a wide range of options for commemorating loved ones.
AddressHolders Hill Road
Mill Hill
London NW7 1NBTelephone020 8359 3370Websitehttps://www.barnet.gov.uk/cemeteries-crematoriumDescriptionHendon Cemetery & Crematorium is operated by Barnet Council and provides modern cremation facilities, chapels for religious and non-religious services, gardens of remembrance and a variety of memorial options.
AddressEast End Road
East Finchley
London N2 0RZTelephone020 8345 9635Websitehttps://www.stmarylebone.orgDescriptionSt Marylebone Crematorium is situated within East Finchley Cemetery and has been serving North London families for many years. It offers peaceful surroundings and facilities suitable for a wide range of funeral services.
Your funeral director will usually make the crematorium booking on your behalf and explain the available service times, chapel options and memorial choices. After the cremation, you can collect the cremated remains, have them interred in a cemetery or memorial garden, scatter them in a designated area, or keep them until you're ready to decide. There is no requirement to make an immediate decision.
Don't feel rushed into deciding what to do with your loved one's cremated remains. Many crematoriums will hold them safely for an agreed period, giving you and your family time to decide on the option that feels right.
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 arranging the funeral service, completing the necessary paperwork and supporting you before, during and after the funeral. Many funeral directors offer traditional burials, cremations, direct cremations 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.
Address212 Eversholt Street
London NW1 1BDTelephone020 7387 6075Websitehttps://www.levertons.co.uk
Address149 Kentish Town Road
London NW1 8PDTelephone020 7485 1266Websitehttps://www.levertons.co.uk
Address184 Kentish Town Road
London NW5 2AETelephone020 3925 9219Websitehttps://www.funeralcare.coop
Address181 Haverstock Hill
Belsize Park
London NW3 4QSTelephone020 7586 4221Websitehttps://www.levertons.co.uk
Address85–87 Bayham Street
London NW1 0AGTelephone0808 196 3430Websitehttps://www.fenixfuneral.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 help arrange viewings, order flowers, organise transport, prepare orders of service and liaise with the cemetery, crematorium, Coroner and Register Office on your behalf.
When speaking to a funeral director, don't be afraid to ask for a written estimate before making your decision. A good funeral director will explain every cost clearly and help you choose options that suit both your wishes and your budget.
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 can also answer any questions you may have and, where appropriate, liaise with the Coroner if the death needs to be referred.
AddressPond Street
London NW3 2QGTelephone020 7794 0500Websitehttps://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/hospitals/royal-free-hospitalDescriptionRoyal Free Hospital is part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and serves many residents across Camden. The hospital has a dedicated Bereavement Office, Medical Examiner Service and Mortuary Team to support families following the death of a loved one.
Address235 Euston Road
London NW1 2BUTelephone020 3456 7890Websitehttps://www.uclh.nhs.ukDescriptionUniversity College Hospital (UCLH) provides acute and specialist healthcare services and has a dedicated Medical Examiner Service and Mortuary Team. Families are supported throughout the certification and registration process following a bereavement.
Following a death, an independent Medical Examiner reviews the medical records and the proposed cause of death. Families are usually offered the opportunity to speak with the Medical Examiner's Office, ask questions and raise any concerns before the death is registered.The Bereavement Office coordinates the necessary paperwork and will let you know when the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death has been completed and sent electronically to the Register Office.
If the death needs to be referred to the Coroner, the hospital's Bereavement Office will explain what happens next and keep you updated throughout the process.Your chosen funeral director can usually begin making provisional funeral arrangements while the necessary documentation is being completed, helping to avoid unnecessary delays once everything is in place.
It's perfectly normal to have questions after someone has died in hospital. Write them down before you speak to the Bereavement Office or Medical Examiner so you don't forget anything. They're there to explain the process and make sure you understand what happens next.
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 documentation.
Address5 Pancras Square
London
N1C 4AGTelephone020 7974 4444Websitehttps://www.camden.gov.uk/register-a-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 be delayed until the Coroner has completed their enquiries. The Coroner's Office will send the necessary paperwork directly to the Register Office when appropriate.If the death occurred at the Royal Free Hospital or University College 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 leaving the Register Office, ask how many certified copies of the death certificate you might need. Although many organisations now accept electronic notification, some banks, pension providers, solicitors and insurance companies still ask to see an official certified copy.