Customer information for the Christmas and New Year holiday period

Find out more about rubbish and recycling collections, Christmas tree recycling and parking restrictions during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Also find opening hours for:

  • customer services
  • leisure services
  • markets
  • museums
  • registrars
  • libraries
  • emergency and out of hours services
Bins and recycling collections
Rubbish and recycling collections continue as normal except for the following dates:
Rubbish and recycling normally collected on the following days: Will be collected on:
Thursday 26 December 2024 Monday 30 December 2024

 

Christmas tree recycling

If you cannot compost your Christmas tree yourself, the best way to recycle your real tree for free, is at one of our drop-off points. This helps to keep our pavements and streets clear.

We have drop-off points across the borough and these are available from Thursday 2 January to Sunday 19 January 2025.

Visit our Christmas tree recycling webpage to find your nearest Christmas tree drop-off point.

If you cannot take your tree to a drop-off point, we can collect it on your rubbish and recycling collection day between Thursday 2 January and Friday 17 January 2025.

Please check your rubbish and recycling collection day before putting your tree out on the kerbside.

Contact centre (telephone enquiries): Opening hours 

Emergencies, evenings, weekends and bank holidays

  • Housing: 020 7361 3008
  • Social Services: 020 7361 3013
  • Environmental health, including noise or nuisance: 020 7361 3002
  • Switchboard: 020 7361 3000

Opening hours over the festive period

Date Opening hours
Monday 23 December 8.30am to 5.30pm
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 8.30am to 5.30pm
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed
Friday 27 December  8.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday 28 December Closed
Sunday 29 December Closed
Monday 30 December 8.30am to 5.30pm
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) 8.30am to 5.30pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025 8.30am to 5.30pm
Friday 3 January 2025 8.30am to 5.30pm
Find telephone numbers and email addresses for Council Services.
Customer service centre (In-person): Opening hours

Address

Customer Service Centre
Town Hall
Hornton Street
W8 7NX

Date Opening hours
Monday 23 December 8.30am to 5pm
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 8.30am to 5pm
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed
Friday 27 December  8.30am to 5pm
Saturday 28 December Closed
Sunday 29 December Closed
Monday 30 December 8.30am to 5pm
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) 8.30am to 5pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025 8.30am to 5pm
Friday 3 January 2025 8.30am to 5pm
Food waste collections

Food waste collections will continue as normal over the festive season. For more information about the service, please visit the Food Waste Collection Service.

Not sure when your food waste will be collected? Find your collection days.

Garden waste collections

Garden waste collections continue as normal except for the following dates:

Normally collected on: Will be collected on:
Wednesday 25 December Saturday 28 December
Wednesday 1 January 2025 Saturday 4 January 2025
For more information about the service, visit the Garden Waste Collection Service.
Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC)

Please find below details of the transfer stations and HWRC opening times over the upcoming festive period:

Date Smugglers Smugglers HWRC Cringle
Tuesday 24 December  7am to 4pm 9am to 4pm Open until midnight
Wednesday 25 December Closed Closed Closed
Thursday 26 December 7am to 4pm Closed Open from 6am
Friday 27 December 7am to 5.30pm 9am to 4pm Open 24 hours
Saturday 28 December 7.30am to 1pm 8am to 6pm Open 24 hours
Sunday 29 December 7.30am to 12 noon 8am to 5pm Open 24 hours
Monday 30 December 7am to 5.30pm 9am to 4pm Open 24 hours
Tuesday 31 December 7am to 5.30pm 9am to 4pm Open 24 hours
Wednesday 1 January 2025 7am to 4pm Closed Open 24 hours

 

Housing repairs

Emergency repairs

If you need to report an emergency repair, or you need assistance please telephone the Customer Service Centre, 0800 137 111 or 020 3617 7080.

An emergency repair is:

  • total loss of power to your property
  • total loss of water supply to your property
  • no heating and no hot water
  • security problems - residents are locked in or out of the property
  • making safe of windows and doors due to forced entries or antisocial behaviour
  • electrics - making safe due to water damage
  • uncontainable leaks
  • bath and sinks backing up waste

Opening hours

Date Opening hours Local offices
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 8am to 5pm (emergencies only after 5pm)     Open
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) 24 hour service (emergencies only) Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) 24 hour service (emergencies only) Closed
Friday 27 December 8am to 6pm (emergencies only after 6pm) Open
Saturday 28 December 24 hour service (emergencies only) Closed
Sunday 29 December 24 hour service (emergencies only) Closed
Monday 30 December 8am to 6pm (emergencies only after 6pm) Open
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) 8am to 5pm (emergencies only after 5pm) Open
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) 24 hour service (emergencies only) Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025 Normal service resumes (8am to 6pm) Open

Neighbourhood Management and public receptions

Our neighbourhood offices will close on the public holidays: 25 and 26 December and 1 January 2025.

Leisure centres
Date Chelsea Sports Centre opening hours Kensington Leisure Centre opening hours
Thursday 19 December (Communications Day) 2.30pm to 10pm 2.30pm to 10pm
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 8.30am to 1pm 8.30am to 1pm
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) Closed Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed 8am to 1pm
Friday 27 December 8am to 6pm 8am to 6pm
Sunday 29 December 8am to 6pm 8am to 6pm
Monday 30 December 8am to 6pm 8am to 6pm
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) 8am to 2pm 8am to 2pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) 8am to 1pm Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025 Normal hours Normal hours

 

Library opening hours

Libraries across the borough are open as usual except for the following dates:

Date Brompton, Kensington Central,
North Kensington and Chelsea Libraries
Kensal Library
Tuesday 24 December 9.30am to 1pm Closed
Wednesday 25 December Closed Closed
Thursday 26 December Closed Closed
Tuesday 31 December 9.30am to 5pm 1pm to 5pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025 Closed Closed

 

Museums opening hours

Leighton House Museum

Date Opening hours
Monday 23 December Closed
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve)     Closed
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed
Friday 27 December 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Saturday 28 December 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Sunday 29 December 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Monday 30 December Closed
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) Closed
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)

 

Sambourne House Museum

Date Opening hours
Monday 23 December Closed
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve)     Closed
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed
Friday 27 December 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Saturday 28 December 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Sunday 29 December 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Monday 30 December Closed
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) Closed
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025 10am to 5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)

 

Parking restrictions
Date Permit parking and pay-by-phone parking (includes Holland Park Car Park (HPCP) Pay-by-phone Single yellow lines (Mon-Sat)
Tuesday 24 December Normal enforcement applies Normal enforcement applies
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) No enforcement No enforcement unless a vehicle is causing an obstruction to the flow of traffic
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) No enforcement No enforcement unless a vehicle is causing an obstruction to the flow of traffic
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) No enforcement No enforcement, unless a vehicle is causing an obstruction to the flow of traffic

 

Parks opening hours

Opening and closing times of all parks in the borough over the Christmas and New Year period. Please note that park gates may be opened or closed within half an hour of stated time.

Date Opening hours
Monday 23 December 7.30am to 4.30pm
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 7.30am to 4.30pm
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) 7.30am to 4.30pm
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) 7.30am to 4.30pm
Friday 27 December 7.30am to 4.30pm
Saturday 28 December 7.30am to 4.30pm
Sunday 29 December 7.30am to 4.30pm
Monday 30 December 7.30am to 5pm
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) 7.30am to 5pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) 7.30am to 5pm
Thursday 2 January 2025 7.30am to 5pm

 

Registrars opening hours and emergency service for the registration of deaths
Date Opening hours
Monday 23 December 8am to 5pm, by prior appointment only
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 8am to 3pm, by prior appointment only

Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day)

Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed (Emergency provision for same day burials / cremations, please telephone 020 7361 3000 between 9am and 10am)
Friday 27 December 8am to 5pm, by prior appointment only
Saturday 28 December 10am to 6pm, by prior appointment only
Sunday 29 December Closed (emergency provision for same day burials / cremations, please telephone 020 7361 3000 between 9am and 10am)
Monday 30 December 8am to 5pm, by prior appointment only
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) 8am to 3pm, by prior appointment only
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) Closed (emergency provision for same day burials / cremations, please telephone 020 7361 3000 between 9am and 10am)
Tuesday 2 January 2025 8am to 4pm – by prior appointment only
 

Emergency service for the registration of deaths outside of our normal office hours

An emergency service to arrange for same-day burials or cremations is available on Sundays and bank holidays, except Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

The telephone number for this service is 020 7361 3000, however it is only for use in an emergency.

This telephone number is for the borough duty officer who will then contact the registrar on call. You must telephone between the hours of 9am and 10am if you require to be seen that day.

The green form for burial or cremation may be issued only if:

  • the medical certificate of cause of death is completed correctly by the doctor certifying death and;
  • the death has not been or does not need to be reported to the coroner and;
  • the body is not being removed from England or Wales.

You will need to travel to the location of the registrar on call.

You should then make arrangements to re-attend the Register Office on the next working day in order to register the death in full.

Street markets and street trading office opening hours
Date Street Trading Office opening hours Markets opening hours
Monday 23 December 8am to 1pm 8am to 7pm
Tuesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 8am to 1pm 8am to 5pm
Wednesday 25 December (Christmas Day) Closed Closed
Thursday 26 December (Boxing Day) Closed Closed
Friday 27 December 7am to 1pm 8am to 7pm
Saturday 28 December 7am to 1pm 8am to 7pm
Sunday 29 December Closed Closed
Monday 30 December 8am to 1pm 8am to 5pm
Tuesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) 8am to 1pm 8am to 5pm
Wednesday 1 January 2025 (New Year's Day) Closed Closed
Thursday 2 January 2025 8am to 1pm 8am to 7pm

 

 

 

Last updated: 23 December 2024