Burial options
We have a wide range of options, for any budget, and anyone may be buried here irrespective of faith or the area in which you live. We have Graves available in our woodland, lawn, traditional and catacomb areas.
Choosing a grave with a lasting memorial is an important decision and we strongly suggest you visit the Cemetery to view the types of grave and areas available before you make your final decision. Please contact our Bereavement Services team to book an appointment.
Throughout this section there is a reference to the maximum number of burials in each type of grave. Please note that the actual number of burials may vary according to the ground selected and prevailing weather conditions.
Service times
The City of London can host and conduct burials between 9am and 3pm every day of the week and 9am until 12 noon at weekends. These times reduce slightly during the winter months due to available daylight. The cost of your interment includes a 30 minute service in one of our chapels (if you require this option). You should allow for 15 minutes to move from the chapel service to the area of the grave and up to a further 30 minutes for the graveside service.
Historic Burial Chapels
Burial Church
The Anglican Church is located at the end of Church Avenue on the left-hand side as you enter the Cemetery. This beautiful Gothic Grade II listed building is primarily used for burial services and can accommodate around 90 seated mourners. This building has full disabled access, a hearing loop, an electronic organ, digital music system and a PA system for larger congregations and is supervised by an experienced member of our team.
Reserve Chapel
The Reserve is located at the end of Chapel Avenue and can be seen from the main entrance to the Cemetery. This bright and non-religious Grade II listed building has a circular seating pattern and can accommodate around 70 mourners. This building has full disabled access, a hearing loop, an electronic organ, digital music system and PA system for larger congregations and is supervised by an experienced member of our team. This building is used as a reserve chapel only and is done so at the discretion of the cemetery management team.
Private Graves (also known as purchased graves)
Private Graves are those where the ‘Rights of Burial’ are owned by an individual or small number of people (usually a close relative of the deceased). A lease is available for a fixed period of time during which the owner(s) may decide who may be buried in that grave and give permission for any memorial work to be carried out.
If the lease expires and is not renewed, the Rights of Burial revert to the City Corporation.
When an owner dies, they automatically have the right to be interred in their own grave, and to have an inscription on an existing memorial (as long as this work is carried out on site and no other work is carried out). If the owner dies and subsequent burials are to take place, a new memorial is to be erected or an existing memorial needs to be removed for the inscription, the ownership must be transferred beforehand.
NB: It is important to note that change of ownership of your grave does not automatically pass to the next of kin or executor.
When securing this type of grave ownership, it is important to provide all names in full, including middle names where applicable. Difficulties may arise later, for example, if an owner completes a permit for monumental work and the details provided do not match those in our Private Grave Register.
There are many different types of grave available at the City of London Cemetery, details of which are listed below.
The private woodland graves can accommodate two private burials within our natural woodland area. There are no memorials of any kind in this area, so please bear this in mind when selecting this option.
This grave can accommodate up to three coffin or two casket burials.
Many areas of the cemetery that are now being used for new burials have previously been used in the past. These graves are in one such area and have had the previous memorial cleared. This is a traditional style grave with a landing and kerbs and is supplied with a 6’6” x 2’6” landing ready for a new memorial and will be placed on the grave once the ground has settled. These graves are located in our Conservation area therefore all memorials have to be of a light colour natural stone.
This grave can accommodate up to three coffin burials (No caskets are permitted in these graves and coffin size restrictions will apply).
Many areas of the cemetery that are now being used for new burials have previously been used in the past. These graves are in one such area and are provided with an existing memorial in situ. This is a traditional style grave with a landing and kerbs. The existing memorial will be cleaned and renovated and will retain the original inscription of the reverse of the headstone.
This grave can accommodate up to three coffin or two casket burials.
Many areas of the cemetery that are now being used for new burials have previously been used in the past. These graves are in one such area and are provided with an existing memorial in situ. This is a larger traditional style grave with a landing and kerbs. The existing memorial will be cleaned and renovated and will retain the original inscription of the reverse of the headstone.
This grave can accommodate up to three burials. This is a lawn grave in virgin soil and is located in our conservation section which means that all memorials have to be of a light colour natural stone.
This grave can accommodate up to three burials. This is a lawn grave located in a non-conservation area; therefore, a larger choice of memorial colours are permitted.
As with the general heritage option, his grave can accommodate up to three coffin or two casket burials; however, these graves are located in prominent roadside positions around the cemetery
Many areas of the cemetery that are now being used for new burials have previously been used in the past. These graves are in one such area and have had the previous memorial cleared. This is a traditional style grave with a landing and kerbs and is supplied with a 6’6” x 2’6” landing ready for a new memorial and will be placed on the grave once the ground has settled. These graves are located in our Conservation area therefore all memorials have to be of a light colour natural stone.
This type of grave can accommodate up to two burials. This is a traditional style grave with a landing and kerbs but is located in our Conservation area therefore all memorials have to be of a light colour natural stone.
This type of grave can accommodate up to four burials. A concrete landing is placed directly on the ground and a substantial memorial (up to 152cm or 5’ high) can be erected on top of the grave landing. These graves are located in our Conservation area therefore all memorials have to be of a light colour natural stone.
This type of grave can accommodate up to four burials. Before a concrete landing is installed, a concrete sleeve and two courses of brickwork are laid to provide a solid foundation for the grave. This removes the possibility of subsidence later on and allows a substantial memorial to be erected on top of the landing. These graves are located in our Conservation area therefore all memorials have to be of a light colour natural stone.
Our catacomb is an impressive semi-circle gothic structure in the centre of the Cemetery. The structure contains chambers that can accommodate one interment each. This option is perfect for those who do not wish to be buried in the ground or who wish to consider a different burial option. You need a specifically designed coffin or casket, and this is sealed into the chamber with a memorial tablet. Please consult your Funeral Director or our Bereavement Services team for more information on our catacomb options.
We have specific areas within the Cemetery providing private graves for the burial of ashes. A headstone may be erected, and each grave can hold up to ten urns or caskets. Please consult our Bereavement Services team for what options are available.
This type of grave is where the City of London owns the 'Rights of Burial' and unrelated people are buried in the same grave. There are currently two different types of public grave available at the City of London Cemetery & Crematorium
