Christmas and the new year are right around the corner, which means there will be service changes to normal council opening hours. You’ll find all the information you may need over the next couple of weeks as we work to ensure our communities are supported at this time.
Children and Family Centres
All Family Hubs and Children and Family Centres will be closed from 5pm on Tuesday 24 December and will reopen at 9.15am on Thursday 2 January 2025.
Youth Centre opening times
During the festive period five of our youth centres will be open to young people aged 11-19 (up to 25 with SEND).
From Monday 6 January 2025 all centres will be open as usual, at their normal times.
Columbia Road - 12.30 to 7pm
- Monday 23 December 2024
- Tuesday 24 December 2024
- Friday 27 December 2024
- Thursday 2 January 2025
- Friday 3 January 2025
Christian Street - 2 to 8pm
- Monday 23 December 2024
- Tuesday 24 December 2024
- Thursday 26 December 2024
- Friday 27 December 2024
- Saturday 28 December 2024
- Monday 30 December 2024
- Tuesday 31 December 2024
St Andrews Wharf - 1 to 8pm
- Monday 23 December 2024
- Monday 30 December 2024
Urban Adventure Base - 11am to 2pm
- Tuesday 24 December 2024
- Friday 27 December 2024
Bromley-by-Bow - 1 to 8pm
- Tuesday 24 December 2024
- Friday 27 December 2024
Christmas/New Years rubbish, recycling and food waste collections
During the holiday period, your rubbish, recycling, food and garden waste collection day will change.
Christmas/New Year waste collection day changes
| Scheduled collection day | Service status | onRevised collection day |
|---|
|
Monday 23 December 2024
|
Normal service
|
|
|
Tuesday 24 December 2024
|
Normal service
|
|
|
Wednesday 25 December 2024 - Christmas Day
|
No service
|
Wednesday collections will take place on Thursday 26 December 2024
|
|
Thursday 26 December 2024 - Boxing Day
|
Service (one day behind normal schedule)
|
Thursday collections on Friday 27 December 2024
|
|
Friday 27 December 2024
|
Service (one day behind normal schedule)
|
Friday collections on Saturday 28 December 2024
|
|
Saturday 28 December 2024
|
Normal service and Friday collections service
|
|
|
Sunday 29 December 2024
|
No service
|
|
|
Monday 30 December 2024
|
Normal service
|
|
|
Tuesday 31 December 2024
|
Normal service
|
|
|
Wednesday 1 January 2025 – New Year’s Day
|
No service
|
Wednesday collections will take place on Thursday 2 January 2025
|
|
Thursday 2 January 2025
|
Service (one day behind normal schedule)
|
Thursday collections on Friday 3 January 2025
|
|
Friday 3 January 2025
|
Service (one day behind normal schedule)
|
Friday collections on Saturday 4 January
|
|
Saturday 4 January 2025
|
Normal service and Friday collections service
|
|
|
Sunday 5 January 2025
|
No service
|
|
Find out more on the rubbish and recycling collection page.
Christmas tree recycling
There will be a collection for the recycling of real Christmas trees from Monday, 6 January to Friday, 17 January 2025. If you currently receive a food and garden kerbside collection, kindly remove all decorations from your tree and leave out for collection on your scheduled day during this period.
If you don't get a food and garden collection, ask your landlord or management company to arrange a collection. You can also bring your tree to the Reuse and Recycling Centre on Yabsley Street in London.
Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC)
The Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC) will be open every day except Christmas Day.
Opening times will be 9am to 4pm on the following days:
- Boxing Day
- New Year’s Day
Housing Options and homelessness
The Housing Options Service is closed from 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 to Thursday 2 January 2025.
Emergencies during the bank holidays, weekends and evenings will be covered within the council’s out of hours arrangements by calling 020 7364 4079.
People who need an emergency homeless service on Sunday 29, Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 December (11am and 4pm) can go to:
Idea store and contact centre
All Idea Stores and Libraries
- Idea Store Bow, Canary Wharf, Chrisp Street, Watney Market and Whitechapel:
Tuesday 24 December: 9am to 1pm
- Bethnal Green and Cubitt Town Library:
Tuesday 24 December: 10am to 2pm
All Idea Stores and Libraries
- Wednesday 25 December: CLOSED
- Thursday 26 December: CLOSED
Idea Store Whitechapel and Idea Store Chrisp Street only
- Friday 27 December 2024: 10am to 4pm
- Saturday 28 December 2024: 9am to 5pm
- Sunday 29 December 2024: 11am to 3pm
- Monday 30 December 2024: 10am to 4pm
- Tuesday 31 December 2024: 10am to 4pm
- Wednesday 1 January 2025: CLOSED
Idea Store Bow, Idea Store Canary Wharf, Idea Store Watney Market, Bethnal Green Library and Cubitt Town Library CLOSED from Wednesday 25 December to Wednesday 1 January 2024 included.
Normal opening hours will resume from Thursday 2 January
Local History and Archives
Christmas and New Year: Our last day of opening in 2024 will be Saturday 21 December 10am to 5pm. We will then be closed for the Christmas period and re-open on Thursday 2 January 2025 at 10am. We will also be open on Saturday 4 January 2025 10am to 5pm.
Parking
Parking enforcement by the council is relaxed on national bank holidays but please park responsibly.
Personalised disabled bays and all other restrictions are enforced, including but not limited to all types of yellow lines, dropped kerbs and footway parking.
For more information, please visit our Parking Enforcement webpage.
Parks
Victoria Park
Victoria Park is open every day including Christmas Day.
Stepney Green Astroturf
Pitch will be closed from 25 December and re-opens on Friday 3 January 2025.
Whitehorse Adventure Playground
The last session is on Thursday 19 December and the playground will re-open on Tuesday 7 January 2025.
Stay and Play at Mile End Park
Sessions will re-open on Monday 6 January 2025.
Mile End Park Playground
The playground will be closed on Christmas Day
Other parks and spaces
All other parks and spaces remain open as normal over the holiday season.
Tower Hamlets has over 120 parks and open spaces for you to visit and enjoy over the holiday period.
Register office
The Register office is open during the festive period but with a reduced service. Please visit our opening hours and access page for details.
Severe weather
Our highways and street cleaning team will be on duty through the holidays to keep roads and pavements clear and safe.
We have two spreading vehicles, a mechanical loader and more than 2,000 tonnes of salt at our winter service depot.
As temperatures continue to drop, there are a few things you can do to benefit your health and home over the winter months. Find more information on keeping well and staying warm on our winter wellness page.
Be Well opening hours
The festive season is here! As you take time to celebrate, connect and recharge, Be Well is here to take care of your health and wellbeing needs.
Check out our Christmas opening hours. Normal opening hours will operate outside of these dates.
24 December 2024 (Christmas Eve)
- John Orwell - 8am to 1pm
- Mile End - 9am to 1pm
- Tiller - 9am to 1pm
- Whitechapel - 8am to 1pm
- York Hall - 9am to 1pm
- Poplar Baths - 9am to 1pm
25 December 2024 (Christmas Day)
- John Orwell - CLOSED
- Mile End - CLOSED
- Tiller - CLOSED
- Whitechapel - CLOSED
- York Hall - CLOSED
- Poplar Baths - CLOSED
26 December 2024 (Boxing Day)
- John Orwell - CLOSED
- Mile End - CLOSED
- Tiller - CLOSED
- Whitechapel - CLOSED
- York Hall - CLOSED
- Poplar Baths - CLOSED
27 December 2024
- John Orwell - 8am to 4pm
- Mile End - 9am to 5pm
- Tiller - 9am to 5pm
- Whitechapel - 8am to 4pm
- York Hall - 9am to 5pm
- Poplar Baths - 9am to 5pm
28 December 2024
- John Orwell - 8am to 4pm
- Mile End - 9am to 5pm
- Tiller - 9am to 5pm
- Whitechapel - 8am to 4pm
- York Hall - 9am to 5pm
- Poplar Baths - 9am to 5pm
29 December 2024
- John Orwell - 8am to 4pm
- Mile End - 9am to 5pm
- Tiller - 9am to 5pm
- Whitechapel - 8am to 4pm
- York Hall - 9am to 5pm
- Poplar Baths - 9am to 5pm
30 December 2024
- John Orwell - 8am to 4pm
- Mile End - 9am to 5pm
- Tiller - 9am to 5pm
- Whitechapel - 8am to 4pm
- York Hall - 9am to 5pm
- Poplar Baths - 9am to 5pm
31 December 2024 (New Year's Eve)
- John Orwell - 8am to 1pm
- Mile End - 9am to 1pm
- Tiller - 9am to 1pm
- Whitechapel - 8am to 1pm
- York Hall - 9am to 1pm
- Poplar Baths - 9am to 1pm
1 January 2025 (New Year's Day)
- John Orwell - CLOSED
- Mile End - CLOSED
- Tiller - CLOSED
- Whitechapel - CLOSED
- York Hall - CLOSED
- Poplar Baths - CLOSED
Posted on Wednesday 18th December 2024