Traditional, modern, simple and more unusual funerals, arranged with care from the first call to the funeral itself.
Poetic Endings is a small, independent, female-led funeral director based in Forest Hill and arranging funerals across London. We’ll explain the choices, be clear about costs and take care of the details.
You can call with a practical question even if you have not decided whether to appoint us.
117 reviews and a 5.0 rating. Recommended by the Good Funeral Guide; members of SAIF and the Association of Green Funeral Directors.
Our three main funeral services, with prices shown before you contact us.
For funerals in crematoria, churches, cemeteries, natural burial grounds and alternative venues, with the time and flexibility to shape the arrangements.
A morning crematorium funeral in South East London, with space for music, words and a proper goodbye, but fewer arrangements around it.
We care for the person who has died at our Forest Hill funeral home and arrange the cremation without anyone attending at the crematorium.
The first thing you need may be practical information, a clear idea of costs, or simply somebody to explain what happens next.
You are trusting a funeral director with a person you care about and with a great deal of practical responsibility. These are some of the things we think you should be able to expect.
One of our funeral directors guides the arrangements, coordinates the practical work and is there on the day of the funeral.
Our prices are published online. We explain third-party fees and provide a written estimate so you can understand the likely total before proceeding.
The person who has died is cared for at our Forest Hill funeral home, with purpose-built mortuary facilities and a private chapel of rest.
We arrange cremations, burials, church funerals, natural burials and ceremonies in less conventional venues. We’ll explain the options without pushing you towards a particular style.
People often tell us they do not know what they want because they have never seen many funerals done differently. Real examples can make the possibilities much easier to imagine.
Snow at Clandon Wood, a white willow coffin, a horse-drawn carriage and details Michelle had chosen herself.
Read Michelle’s story →
The ceremony can take place in a museum, gallery, historic building or another suitable venue, with burial or cremation arranged separately.
Explore funeral venues →We have built detailed London directories and guides so you can compare places and people before deciding what feels right.
Our practical guides explain bereavement contacts, Medical Examiner arrangements, registration and what happens when a funeral director becomes involved at individual London hospitals and hospices.
A selection of recent Google reviews from people who have arranged funerals with Poetic Endings.
“There is a quiet, clear competency about this small independent firm of funeral directors…”
Laurence Mann
Google review · October 2026
“Louise and her team were extremely kind, compassionate and thoughtful…”
Helen Osborne
Google review · September 2026
“On the day organisation was impeccable.”
Cherry Potts
Google review · April 2026
“Our experience with Louise and her team at Poetic Endings was faultless.”
Edward Savage
Google review · June 2026
Our funeral home is where we make arrangements, care for people who have died and welcome private visits in our chapel of rest.
Behind the scenes are our purpose-built mortuary facilities. We believe you should be able to know where the person who has died is being cared for and who is looking after them.
37 Davids Road · Forest Hill · London SE23 3EP
Visits by appointment
Poetic Endings was founded by funeral director and author Louise Winter. Louise was formerly editor of the Good Funeral Guide and is the co-author of We All Know How This Ends.
We are a small team rather than a national chain. That allows us to stay close to the arrangements while drawing on a trusted network of celebrants, florists, venues and other funeral professionals across London.
Read our story →Recommended by the Good Funeral Guide and the Natural Death Centre.
Members of SAIF and the Association of Green Funeral Directors.
We are female-led and LGBTQIA+ inclusive, and work with different beliefs, relationships, identities and ways of doing things.
Louise’s work has featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC News and BBC London, as well as in national press and at TEDx.
Tell us what has happened or what you are thinking about. We’ll explain what needs to happen next, answer your questions and talk through the options without expecting you to have everything decided.
Our telephone line is answered 24 hours a day. Meetings at our Forest Hill funeral home are by appointment.