Seafield Cemetery & Crematorium has been providing cremation services for over eighty years. Their longevity tells us that they are well-trusted in their line of work.

Former clients made it a point to mention their accommodating and caring staff. Apparently, they were willing to go above and beyond, and they were always polite and punctual.

What we appreciate about them is that they do not charge for plastic urns or scatter tubes, unlike other companies.

In Scotland, there are no cremation or burial fees for children under the age of 16. However, this company was kind enough to apply this rule to those 18 and under, which we think is quite thoughtful.

Compared to what other companies charge, they offer cost-effective cremation services. For instance, a simple cremation costs £856 while a no-service cremation is only £380.

They also have various visual tribute services that families can choose from, depending on their preference or budget. These include a webcast tribute, single image, slideshow, and even a family video.

A downside is that if you want to set up a visual tribute, you should give them more than 48 hours’ notice. Otherwise, you will be charged a £75 surcharge fee.

Past clients also complained that they had no parking, which we agree is a tad inconvenient.

Also, some clients were actually left onsite with the gates locked, which was a major oversight on the company’s part. The clients had to squeeze through a gap in order to leave, which is quite inconvenient.

The owner of McGillivray Funeral Directors, John McGillivray, has 36 years of industry experience. Clearly, he is highly experienced in providing quality cremation services.

First, they offer a free, no obligation quote – a service which not all companies offer. This quote will help you decide which service would be suitable for your needs, without the pressure to hire them if you find a better deal elsewhere.

Clients can choose between simple cremation and direct cremation service. A simple cremation includes a memorial service with an officiant while a direct cremation means no memorial service is included.

They also offer a newspaper notice service in The Evening News, which would save you the time and effort to arrange it yourself. This price for this convenience, however, costs £200 – which is a tad higher compared to other newspaper notice services.

While they do have operating hours, they can also supply service outside of their normal office hours, which could be advantageous for some. However, their prices for these off-hours services would be available only upon request.

Compared to other services, their cremation options are a bit pricier. For instance, their no-service, no-attendance direct cremation service costs £1100 while this exact same service costs £380 to £600 elsewhere.

Also, they are closed on weekends, unlike others that are open all week. This would be inconvenient for those who only have free time during the weekend.

Scotmid Funerals has been operating since 1927, which we think is impressive. 

Unlike other companies, they are part of the Scotmid Co-operative Society, which prides itself in providing open, honest, ethical, and professional services at all times.

They are also members of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD). This association represents the funeral profession at all levels of government on legislative matters, which boosts their credibility.

For those who have tight budgets, you can take advantage of their direct cremation funeral prepaid plan. This will allow you to take care of your own or your loved one’s cremation through manageable monthly payments instead of the whole fee in one go.

Similar to other companies, they have a complete cremation package as well. It has several inclusions, allowing them to take the planning burden off the bereaved family’s shoulders.

Of course, since they do include several inclusions, their cremation package is priced at £4,159, which is higher than the average price for the service. If this is outside your price range, you might need to go elsewhere.

Also, unlike other companies, they do require a minimum deposit of £250, which needs to be paid before the date of the funeral.

As a long-standing family-run company, we think William Purves Funeral Directors is one of the top cremation services in Edinburgh. It is a bit mind-boggling to think that they’ve been around since 1888, which covers about five generations!

We like that they encourage prospective clients to download a free Plan of Wishes on their website. This is a form that you fill out, which includes instructions for the people likely to organise your own funeral.

For those who want to organise a small memorial along with the cremation, they do offer a Simple Cremation Service. However, if you prefer an unattended cremation, they have that option as well.

A unique service they offer which others do not is their bereavement support. They have an Acorns Bereavement Support Programme that offers reassurance and companionship through group support.

They also offer various pre-payment funeral plans for those who want to arrange the funeral you want in advance. This service will allow you to specify your wishes and pay for the funeral director’s services included in your chosen plan.

Unfortunately, unlike other companies, they are actually closed on weekends. Those who are only free on weekends would need to take time off work.

Also, we heard reports of clients and their bereaved parties being turned off by the blatant splash advertising placed all over their hearse. They said it cheapened the solemnity of the event.

McKenzie & Millar Funeralcare is another long-established cremation service in Edinburgh. Unlike other companies, they are open 24/7, which is highly convenient for those with irregular hours.

Compared to other companies, they also have highly competitive cremation prices. For instance, a standard simple funeral memorial, including professional and cremation fees, is £2,817 – which is below the national average.

A one-of-a-kind service they offer is their dove release service. The releasing of the doves signifies the “letting go” of the loved one, an  act said to help with the grieving process.

They also offer memorial jewellery for those who want a memento of their loved one. Most of these pieces are designed to hold a small portion of cremation remains, such as a locket.

Another unique service they offer is setting up an online obituary. Publishing an online obituary is a meaningful way to pay tribute to a loved one’s life.

They also offer prepaid funeral plans for those who love planning ahead.

Sadly, several customers complained about their lack of onsite parking, which highly-inconvenienced them.

Unlike other companies, they also have no chapel of rest – a place where family and friends have the chance to say goodbye and pay their respects to a loved one before the funeral and cremation service take place.