Six of the best alternatives to wood burners

Offering instant heat and available in a range of styles, electric fires can offer much of the cosiness of wood burners. This ACR Malvern is free-standing and portable. Weighing 21kg, it has a flame effect and 2kW heater. No flue needed.

These fire baskets fuse ultrasonic technology to create a fine mist that is illuminated to produce realistic flames and smoke, coupled with authentic-looking logs and a glowing ash bed. They don’t need a flue, but nor do they give off heat.

This ceiling-suspended 13.5kW gas fire is based on a woodburner design patented decades ago, and is available in two colours. It has realistic ceramic logs, and can be pivoted by remote control.

Designed for wall-mounted installation, this electric fire has two heat settings (1kW or 2kW) as well as a realistic LED flame-effect display and a choice of seven backlight colours.

For an electric heater that looks like a log burner, try this Stockton Electric Stove, which has a cast iron door and steel body. Gazco’s “VeriFlame” technology gives an authentic log effect; it has two heat settings and three flame intensity levels. Available in three sizes.

This portable bio-ethanol fireplace is made of recycled cast iron and stands on 45cm wood legs. It produces up to 3.5kW of smokeless heat using eco-friendly fuel – 1.5 litres of bio-ethanol fuel lasts up to six hours.