Peterborough Crematorium — Funeral Services in Cambridgeshire

Peterborough Crematorium provides a peaceful woodland setting for funeral services, cremations and remembrance in Cambridgeshire. Located on Mowbray Road, the crematorium serves families from Peterborough and surrounding communities across the north of the county.

Peterborough City Council owns and manages the crematorium, which opened in 1958. Its chapel welcomes religious, non-religious and civil ceremonies. Moreover, families can personalise a service with music, photographs, readings and recorded tributes.

Location and surroundings

Peterborough Crematorium stands within approximately 26 acres of grounds on the north-western edge of the city. Much of the site retains its original ancient woodland, helping to create a quiet and natural environment for funerals and remembrance.

The trees provide colour throughout the seasons, while bluebells and other wildflowers appear during spring. Birds and other wildlife also visit the grounds. As a result, the surroundings feel calm and secluded despite the crematorium’s accessible position.

Travelling to Peterborough Crematorium

The crematorium is situated on Mowbray Road, close to North Bretton and Marholm. Its location provides convenient access from central Peterborough, the A47 and communities including Werrington, Glinton, Market Deeping, Stamford, Whittlesey and Yaxley.

Parking is available within the grounds. However, mourners should arrive in good time, particularly when a large attendance is expected or several services are scheduled during the day.

Families arranging a funeral will normally book the crematorium through their chosen funeral director. Anyone planning an independently arranged funeral should contact the Bereavement Services team for guidance before making arrangements.

Chapel and funeral facilities

Peterborough Crematorium has one chapel that can accommodate different types of funeral ceremony. Families may arrange a traditional religious service, a humanist or civil ceremony, or a personal farewell led by relatives and friends.

The chapel seats approximately 80 people. When attendance exceeds the available seating, the service can also be relayed through speakers and television screens to a covered area outside.

Music, photographs and visual tributes

The chapel uses the Obitus audiovisual system, which provides access to an extensive catalogue of recorded music. This allows families to choose meaningful pieces for the entrance, reflection and departure.

Photographs can appear on the chapel screens during the ceremony. In addition, families may arrange a slideshow or professionally prepared visual tribute that celebrates different stages of the person’s life.

Music and tribute requests should be agreed with the funeral director before the service. Some audiovisual options carry an additional charge and may require several working days to prepare.

Webcasting and service recordings

A live webcast allows relatives and friends to watch the funeral online when they cannot attend in person. Access remains private and requires a secure link or login details supplied to the family.

Recorded copies of the service may also be available on a USB drive or DVD. Therefore, families who would like a webcast, recording or visual tribute should discuss their requirements with their funeral director when arranging the ceremony.

Accessibility and visitor comfort

The main funeral and visitor areas are designed to accommodate people with limited mobility. Nevertheless, anyone with particular access requirements should contact the crematorium office before travelling so that the team can provide current information and appropriate assistance.

Visitor toilets are available at the crematorium. Those who specifically require an accessible toilet or other facilities may wish to confirm their needs with the office in advance.

Service length and cremation options

A standard booking at Peterborough Crematorium normally provides a 60-minute appointment, allowing approximately 45 minutes for the funeral service. The remaining time enables mourners to enter and leave the chapel without feeling rushed and allows staff to prepare for the next funeral.

Families can include readings, prayers, eulogies, music and a period of reflection. However, the precise amount of chapel time and the available appointment times should always be confirmed before finalising the order of service.

Simpler attended and unattended cremation options may also be available. An attended direct cremation provides a shorter opportunity for a limited number of mourners to say goodbye. By contrast, an unattended cremation takes place without mourners or a chapel ceremony.

Availability and conditions can change. Consequently, families should ask their funeral director or the Bereavement Services office about the options that currently meet their needs.

Memorials and remembrance

The woodland grounds provide several ways to create a lasting memorial. Peterborough Crematorium offers both permanent memorials and options that families can lease for a set number of years.

Available choices may include:

• Entries in the Book of Remembrance
• Memorial roses with bronze plaques
• Granite tablets, plaques and vases
• Memorial trees and woodland dedications
• Commemorative seats
• Family niches and individual niches
• Sanctum memorials designed to hold cremated remains
• Glass memorials and jewellery incorporating a small amount of ashes

Not every memorial can be placed beside the location where ashes have been scattered. However, the memorial team can explain which choices allow cremated remains to be placed within them and which provide a dedication only.

Most leased memorials can be renewed after the original period ends. Since costs and availability vary, families should request the current memorial brochure and price list before making a decision.

Book of Remembrance

The Book of Remembrance provides a permanent written tribute to someone who has died. Each entry appears on the relevant date every year, allowing relatives to return on an anniversary, birthday or another meaningful day.

When the Book of Remembrance Room is closed at weekends and on bank holidays, the books are turned so visitors can view the appropriate pages through the building’s external windows.

Cremated remains and ashes

Following the cremation, the ashes can usually be collected by the funeral director or another authorised person. Alternatively, families may arrange for them to be scattered or placed in a suitable memorial within the crematorium grounds.

Options include scattering in a designated area or placing the cremated remains within a family niche, individual niche or another memorial designed for ashes. Families can also take the ashes elsewhere, subject to the landowner’s permission where required.

The crematorium issues a Certificate of Cremation. This document should remain with the ashes, particularly if the family later plans to bury them in a cemetery or scatter them at another crematorium.

Families should provide clear written instructions and confirm who is authorised to collect the ashes. If they have not yet decided, they can ask their funeral director about temporary arrangements while considering the available choices.

Cremation fees and costs

Peterborough Crematorium’s fees vary according to the type of cremation, the appointment time and any optional services selected. Webcasts, recorded services, visual tributes and memorial products may add to the overall cost.

The crematorium fee forms only one part of the funeral bill. Other expenses may include the funeral director, coffin, transport, celebrant or minister, flowers and printed orders of service.

Since prices are reviewed periodically, families should obtain the latest fee schedule before making arrangements. A cremation cost calculator can also provide an initial estimate, although the funeral director should supply a fully itemised quotation before the booking is confirmed.

Contact details

Address: Peterborough Crematorium, Mowbray Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE6 7JE
Telephone: 01733 262639
Email: crematorium@peterborough.gov.uk
Office opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm; Saturday, 9.00am to 12 noon
Website: Peterborough Crematorium official website

The office closes on Sundays and bank holidays. The Book of Remembrance Room opens from 9.00am to 5.00pm on weekdays and from 9.00am to 12.30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays.

The grounds open daily from 9.00am to 7.00pm between 1 April and 30 September, with last entry at 6.45pm. From 1 October to 31 March, they open from 9.00am to 5.00pm, except when visitors are attending a funeral outside those hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is parking available at Peterborough Crematorium?

Yes. Parking is available within the crematorium grounds. Visitors should arrive early enough to park and reach the chapel before the funeral begins, especially when a large attendance is expected.

How many people can attend a funeral at Peterborough Crematorium?

The chapel seats approximately 80 mourners. If more people attend, the service can be shown on television screens and relayed through speakers to a covered external area.

How long is a service at Peterborough Crematorium?

A standard booking normally provides a 60-minute time slot, with approximately 45 minutes available for the funeral service. Families should confirm the precise chapel time with their funeral director before planning readings, music and tributes.

Can a funeral at Peterborough Crematorium be watched online?

Yes. Families can arrange a private live webcast for relatives and friends who cannot attend. Recordings and photographic tributes are also available, although additional fees and preparation deadlines may apply.

Are there toilets at Peterborough Crematorium?

Yes. Visitor toilets are available. Anyone who requires accessible facilities or specific assistance should contact the crematorium office before attending to confirm the current arrangements.