For Edexcel there are 2 options: Normal and Nuffield. In the normal one, you have to do a written practical exam (like on synthesis of things in the lab) and a practical exam, which is TBH, really easy, since you can take your notes into the practical (not the written though). On Nuffield, you do coursework instead, which involves designing an experiment, performing an experiment (not necessarily the same one), and then interpreting data (not necessarily the data taken from your experiment!).
I think it is inevitable that you will have to do some practical component, whether as an exam or as coursework - it is chemistry after all!!