Plan with care with these 5 best funeral services in Newcastle
There are moments in life that remind us how fragile everything truly is. Sometimes, we come together to support each other through loss. Those moments taught us how important compassion and guidance are when grief feels too heavy to carry alone.
Searching for a funeral service in Newcastle opened our eyes to how meaningful the right support can be. Families need sensitivity and professionals who handle everything with dignity. It’s not an easy topic, but it matters deeply.
So we decided to gather providers known for their heartfelt service, reliability, and respectful approach that can help families navigate one of life’s hardest experiences with care.
How much does a funeral service cost in Newcastle?
A funeral service in Newcastle typically costs from £3,000 to £5,500. However, the total amount depends on whether you choose a direct cremation, a traditional service, or a bespoke arrangement.
1. W S Harrison (Dignity Funerals)
Address: St Mark’s House, 312 Shields Rd, upon Tyne NE6 2UU
Contact Details: +441916408590
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
W S Harrison is one of the longest-established names in Newcastle, supporting local families since the 1920s from its premises on Shields Road.
The funeral home has operated from this location since 1984 and benefits from the structure and standards of being part of the Dignity group.
An attended cremation typically costs around £3,700. This includes third-party fees, while an unattended cremation is priced closer to £1,645. But pricing becomes a noticeable limitation when compared with smaller independent directors, particularly for attended funeral packages exceeding £3,000.
Nonetheless, funeral arrangements cover service locations, music choices, and ceremonial order. Plus, coordination with crematoria, churches, and transport is handled directly, reducing the need for families to manage logistics themselves.
Their Shields Road branch features three dedicated Chapels of Rest, offering private visits in a calm, well-maintained setting.
Additional offerings include memorial jewellery, headstones, personalised memorials, and prepaid funeral plans that lock in today’s costs.
Helped us navigate through everything
“We as a family can’t thank and be grateful enough for all the compassion and care from all members of staff. My nana sadly passed away and Kelly took care of the funeral arrangements and really helped us navigate us through everything. Kelly and staff will always be remembered from us all, thank you from the bottom of our hearts to Kelly and all the members of staff for all your care, compassion and guidance through this difficult time.”
- Jill Mciver, Google Review
Professional and helped put us all at ease
“I cant speak highly enough of how Robert helped us all through such a difficult time. We know how looked after mum would have been once she was in the hands of these guys. Their chapel of rest is just beautiful. Robert was professional always but helped put us all at ease. I would definitely recommend to use this company. No complaints from us at all. Thanks again Robert.”
- Tracey Delaney, Google Review
2. Mark Wait Funeral Service
Address: 19 Arlington Ave, Kenton, upon Tyne NE3 4TS
Contact Details: +441912856635
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
Mark Wait Funeral Service operates from Arlington Avenue in Newcastle as an independent, family-run funeral home with more than 60 years of combined experience across the team.
The business is led by Mark Wait, who has worked in funeral services since his teens. This is alongside his qualified children who manage directing and logistics.
Funeral services here are fully bespoke. They cover attended funerals, direct cremations, and unattended burials, depending on what families actually need.
Core funeral director charges for an attended service typically sit around £2,475, with total costs rising to roughly £3,200 once cremation or burial fees are added.
Arrangements move at a structured pace. It includes access to a modern Chapel of Rest, a family arrangement lounge, and a private reception space for discussions. Just note that at this stage, there’s a required deposit of around £1,100.
More than that, personalisation is a defining feature here, extending to themed celebrations of life, eco-friendly funerals, and alternative transport such as horse-drawn carriages or motorcycle escorts.
Support is also available 24 hours a day. Prepaid funeral plans allow future costs and preferences to be fixed in advance.
Professional and thoughtful
“Mark and team did such a great job for my dad’s funeral arrangements. Every interaction with them from start to finish was professional and thoughtful. They helped us choose all of the best options for dad and the day itself went perfectly – a true celebration of his life. We cannot thank them enough and would strongly recommend others to use their services.”
- Thomas Luccock, Google Review
Professionalism was exceptional
“A truly exceptional level of service from Mark and his team. I can’t recommend them highly enough. From initial contact through to final follow up after our service Mark’s level of care, thoroughness and professionalism was exceptional. The facilities at the chapel of rest were excellent and Amanda’s help while Mum made her last visit to see Dad was thoughful and helpful. Mark and team were always prompt to respond to calls and questions and made sure arrangements were always clear. I can’t thank them enough for the quality of support and service provided at a difficult time after the loss of a loved one.”
- Chris Bennison, Google Review
3. RW Barrett & Son Funeral Services
Address: 379 West Rd, Fenham, upon Tyne NE15 7NL
Contact Details: +441912410873
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
RW Barrett & Son Funeral Services operates from West Road in Newcastle as an independent, family-run funeral director. It was established in 2008 and built on more than 65 years of combined industry experience.
The service is now led by Steven and Rachael Barrett, keeping arrangements personal rather than handed between departments.
Funeral options range from full-attended services to simplified unattended cremations or burials, with every arrangement tailored rather than boxed into fixed packages.
In fact, online tributes through MuchLoved allow announcements, photos, candles, and messages of condolence to be shared beyond the service itself.
Planning extends beyond the ceremony, with guidance on documentation, registration, music, and memorial elements handled step by step. Prepaid funeral plans are also available, secured through regulated life assurance.
Remember, though, that during the arrangement stage, a minimum deposit of around £1,150 is required before the funeral date. This can affect families needing urgent arrangements.
Compassionate, thorough, with respectful care
“On behalf of my family, I want to thank everyone at RW Barrett and Son for the support they gave us after our Granny passed away. Jim Coyle guided us through every step with quiet professionalism and real kindness. He listened carefully to our wishes, and coordinated the service smoothly, to give our granny the send off she deserved. If you need compassionate, thorough, and respectful care, we could not recommend Jim and his colleagues more highly.”
- Joseph Todd, Google Review
Always going above and beyond
“A Truly Compassionate and Professional Service. I can’t express enough how grateful I am for the exceptional service provided by Steven Barrett and Jim and all his staff during such a challenging time. From the very first moment I reached out, they showed nothing but kindness, understanding, and patience. They not only helped organize my mum’s funeral with utmost care, but they also took the time to help me navigate the process of adding my mum’s name to my father’s headstone. The attention to detail and the personal care they showed in both areas truly exceeded my expectations. The staff were respectful and compassionate, always going above and beyond to ensure everything was handled with dignity and respect. It made a difficult time a little easier to manage, and I felt completely supported throughout. I can’t thank them enough for everything they did, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone in need of compassionate, professional care.”
- Julia Maclaren, Google Review
4. Clark Pearson
Address: 2, 2A Baroness Dr, Denton Burn, upon Tyne NE15 7AT
Contact Details: +441912744373
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
Clark Pearson operates from Denton Burn as an independent, family-run funeral director with more than 30 years of continuous service in Newcastle.
Their attended funeral director charges sit at £1,895. It covers planning, professional support, coffin provision, transport, and care of the deceased. Meanwhile, unattended cremations start from around £1,600.
At the arrangement stage, it becomes clear that certain services are not included in the base price. These can include embalming, celebrants, or upgraded coffins, which can affect budgeting expectations.
Nevertheless, one area where Clark Pearson stands out is flexibility around viewings, with chapel-of-rest appointments available outside standard office hours.
Combined with a well-kept Mercedes funeral fleet and a wide range of coffin styles, the service feels considered rather than generic.
Ongoing support also covers funeral notices and prepaid funeral plans designed to lock in current prices and record wishes early.
Made the very difficult time a bit easier
“Clark Pearson were absolutely brilliant in handling my Dad’s funeral. They guided us through the whole process with such care and compassion, and couldn’t have been more helpful or accommodating during what was an awful time for our family. A special thank you to Karen for her support and kindness throughout, and to Colin, the celebrant, who was excellent. Every detail was taken care of perfectly. I couldn’t recommend Clark Pearson highly enough – they made a very difficult time that bit easier, and we’ll always be grateful.”
- Jack Waddell, Google Review
Attention to detail and professionalism have not faltered
“I cant thank Karen the funeral director at Clark Pearson and Colin the Celebrant enough for the sympathy and the way they handled the funeral arrangements and service at the crematorium. This was a very difficult time for us as a family as we didnt expect the sudden passing away of our son Steven at the age of 53. I am unaware how other funeral companies carry out their business but this is the third time we have used Clark Pearson for family funerals. Their attention to detail and professionalism has not faltered over the years. I cant recommend them highly enough.”
- Iain Gardner, Google Review
5. CM Walkers Funeral Services
Address: 8 Morley Terrace, Felling, Gateshead NE10 9HJ
Contact Details: +441914470180
Business Hours:
- Open 24/7
CM Walkers Funeral Services operates across Newcastle and Gateshead as an independent provider. They offer round-the-clock support when quick arrangements are needed.
Their traditional all-inclusive funeral package sits at around £2,895. It bundles funeral arrangements, a hearse, a limousine, an obituary notice, and cremation-related fees into a single figure.
Direct cremation options are also tiered. It starts at roughly £1,275 for an unattended service, with a slightly attended option available at a higher rate for families who want a brief ceremony.
As a matter of fact, their direct burial packages cost around £1,995. It covers not just transport and a coffin but also cemetery fees and graveside elements, which are often charged separately elsewhere.
Beyond standard services, CM Walkers leans heavily into customisation. They have options such as motorcycle hearses, horse-drawn carriages, and wicker coffins.
Also, their home visits for arrangements and prepaid funeral plans offer flexibility, especially for families who can make decisions at their own pace.
One practical drawback is that on-site parking is not clearly available at some locations, which can complicate visits for meetings or viewings.
Made everything so stress-free
“During the extremely sad time of losing my Dad, Chris from CM Walkers could not have been kinder! From the initial dreaded phone call, to our first face to face visit, he just made everything so stress free and easy. He took us through the process step by step, from choosing a casket, flowers, a humanist, getting the order of service printed, music, a notice in the newspaper, in fact everything that was needed from start to finish and handled every question we had with the utmost of patience. We can’t thank him enough or indeed recommend this kind and caring funeral service enough! The cost of everything was exceptional value for money, keep up the fantastic work Chris! Thank you from the bottom of our albeit broken hearts.”
- Dawn Davidson, Google Review
Dealt with everything with compassion and professionalism
“On behalf of all the Ramshaw family we would like to say a massive thank you to Chris Walker for how he handled our late mams funeral. From the beginning of the process Chris went above and beyond and dealt with all the arrangements and details with compassion and professionalism and made what was a very sad time for us much more bearable. We had originally met with another funeral director in the area and felt the appointment was business like and came across that it was all about how much money they could squeeze out of my grieving father and we left the funeral parlour feeling cold and not impressed. We then did our research and saw all of Chris Walkers reviews and are now so glad we followed our heart and straightaway realised Chris is one of the few genuinely good guys in the funeral business who cares more about the wellbeing of his clients than money and is straight upfront with all his costs and no hidden extras. Finally would like to add that in the future would not use anyone else, thanks again from Sharon and family, Chris you are amazing! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”
- Robert Stubbs, Google Review