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.
- Family Hubs and Children and Family Centres
- Youth Centre opening times
- Christmas/New years rubbish, recycling and food waste and Christmas tree collections
- Housing Options and Homelessness
- Idea Store and Contact Centre
- Parking
- Register office
- Severe weather and staying well during winter
- Be Well opening hours
Family Hubs/Children and Family Centres
Our Family Hubs and Children and Family Centres will be closed for the festive period from Thursday 25 December 2025 and re-open on Friday 2 January 2026.
Saturday activities will resume from 10 January 2026.
Christmas/New Years rubbish, recycling and food waste and Christmas tree collections
Find out more on the rubbish and recycling collection page.
Christmas tree recycling
| Schedule collection day | Service status | Revised collection days |
|---|
|
Monday 22 December 2025
|
Normal service |
|
|
Tuesday 23 December 2025
|
Normal service |
|
|
Wednesday 24 December 2025
|
Normal service |
|
|
Thursday 25 December 2025
|
No service |
Thursday collections on Saturday 27 December 2025
|
|
Friday 26 December 2025
|
No service |
Friday Collections on Sunday 28 December 2025
|
|
Saturday 27 December 2025
|
Service (two day behind normal schedule)
|
Thursday collections on Saturday 27 December 2025 |
|
Sunday 28 December 2025
|
Service (two day behind normal schedule)
|
Friday collections on Sunday 28 December 2025
|
|
Monday 29 December 2025
|
Normal service
|
|
|
Tuesday 30 December 2025
|
Normal service
|
|
|
Wednesday 31 December 2025
|
Normal service
|
|
|
Thursday 1 January 2026
|
No service
|
Thursday collections will take place on Friday 2 January 2026
|
|
Friday 2 January 2026
|
Service (one day behind normal schedule)
|
Thursday collections on Friday 2 January 2026
|
|
Saturday 3 January 2026
|
Service (one day behind normal schedule)
|
Friday collection on Saturday 3 January 2026
|
|
Sunday 4 January 2026
|
No service - weekend
|
|
|
Monday 5 January 2026
|
Normal service – Christmas Tree collections begin
|
Christmas Tree collections begin
|
Christmas tree recycling
There will be a collection for the recycling of real Christmas trees from Monday 5 January to Friday 16 January 2026. 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, you can book the collection of an individual tree via the bulky waste collection service. Residents can also bring their tree to the Reuse and Recycling Centre on Yabsley Street in London.
Email commercialwaste@towerhamlets.gov.uk or complete the commercial waste service enquiry form.
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 Wednesday 24 December 2025 to Friday 2 January 2026.
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 28, Monday 29, Tuesday 30, Wednesday 31 December 2025 (11am and 4pm) can go to:
Idea store and contact centre
All Idea Stores and Libraries (excluding Local History)
- Monday 22 December: 9am to 9pm - Idea Store | 10am to 6pm Libraries
- Tuesday 23 December: 9am to 9pm - Idea Store | 10am to 6pm Libraries
- Wednesday 24 December: 9am to 1pm - Idea Store | 10am to 2pm Libraries
- Thursday 25 December: CLOSED - All
- Friday 26 December: CLOSED - All
Idea Store Whitechapel and Idea Store Chrisp Street only
- Saturday 27 December: 9am to 5pm
- Sunday 28 December: 11am to 3pm
- Monday 29 December: 10am to 4pm
- Tuesday 30 December: 10am to 4pm
- Wednesday 31 December: 10am to 4pm
- Thursday 1 January: CLOSED
Idea Store Bow, Idea Store Canary Wharf, Idea Store Watney Market, Bethnal Green Library and Cubitt Town Library
CLOSED from Thursday 25 December 2025 to Thursday 1 January 2026 inclusive.
All sites
Friday 2 January: Back to normal hours
Local History and Archives
Last day of opening will be Tuesday 23 December 2025. We will reopen on Saturday 3 January 2026 at 10am.
Contact centre
- Tuesday 23 December 2025 - 9am to 5pm
- Wednesday 24 December 2025 - 9am to 5pm
- Thursday 25 December 2025 to 1 January 2026 - CLOSED
- Friday 2 December 2026 - 9am 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 ou parking enforcement webpage.
Parks
All parks, including Victoria Park, will be open on Christmas Day and throughout the Christmas period. Opening times are on the council website.
Victoria Park
Victoria Park is open every day including Christmas Day.
Mile End Park
The playground at Mile End Park will be open 10am to 5pm every day except Christmas Day.
Stay and Play at Mile End Park. Last session on 19 December. Reopens on 5 January 2026.
Stepney Green Astroturf
Pitch will be closed from 25 December and re-opens on Saturday 3 January 2026.
Whitehorse Adventure playground
Last session 18 December. Reopens on 6 January 2026.
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.
Event centre spaces
The Brady Arts Centre
Will close on Wednesday 24 December at 4pm and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026 at 8.30am.
Kobi Nazrul Centre
The last day of activity for the Kobi Nazrul Centre is 23 December 2025. Evening classes will resume second week of January 2026.
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.
Posted on Tuesday 16th December 2025