Most Lambeth Services close for the Christmas and New year season only on the Bank Holiday Mondays and Boxing Day, Tuesday 26.
Recycling and rubbish collection
Your collection day will change for the Christmas and New year Bank Holidays.
If you live in a kerbside property with a wheelie bin, Christmas and New year collection dates become:
| Usual collection date | Christmas collection date |
| Monday 25 December | Tuesday 26 December |
| Tuesday 26 December | Wednesday 27 December |
| Wednesday 27 December | Thursday 28 December |
| Thursday 28 December | Friday 29 December |
| Friday 29 December | Saturday 30 December |
| Monday 1 January | Tuesday 2 January |
| Tuesday 2 January | Wednesday 3 January |
| Wednesday 3 January | Thursday 4 January |
| Thursday 4 January | Friday 5 January |
| Friday 5 January | Saturday 6 January |
Collections will return to your usual day of the week from Monday 8 January 2024.
Christmas tree collection
We’ll be collecting real Christmas trees for free from 2 January 2024. See details of bin collection dates for when to put out your tree with your wheelie bin.
Find information online on where to leave your tree if you live on an estate, and where to take it to a recycling centre instead of waiting for collection.
Parking in Lambeth
Some parking restrictions are always lifted in Lambeth on Bank Holidays. Parking arrangements for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve are the same as for other bank holidays. See details online.
Adult social care and children’s services
Both services will be closed over the bank holidays, open Dec 27-29 and from Jan 2 2024.
If you are concerned about the safety of an adult, young person or child because of suspected abuse or neglect outside of our normal opening times, call the Lambeth emergency out-of-hours line 020 7926 1000.
If you have concerns about the immediate safety of an adult, child or young person, call the police on 999.
Cost of living help
Lambeth Council funds community partner organisations to support residents in the borough this winter. For details of their services and opening times, please contact them direct.
Lambeth supports more than 20 warm spaces in the borough. Contact them direct for details of Christmas/New year opening.
Most local food banks need you to have a voucher or book 48 hours in advance. For advice on emergency food see Lambeth Larder pages.
Lambeth Council Customer services
Lambeth’s Town Hall and the Civic Centre are closed to visitors 23-26 December, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. They are open 9-5 27-29 Dec and from 2 Jan 2024.
Our main customer number 020 7926 1000 is closed on the Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day Bank Holidays, but open usual hours 27, 28 & 29 Dec, and from 2 Jan 2024. Please note that all calls to Lambeth Council may be monitored or recorded.
Lambeth Cemeteries and Crematoria
Lambeth’s cemetery and crematorium grounds are open to visitors on Christmas Day 10am -14:30pm and on other Bank Holidays 10am -4pm. Our offices are closed on these days.
Lambeth Libraries
Lambeth libraries are closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 31 December and 1 January. In addition:
- Waterloo Library is closed Friday 22 December to 2 January
- Upper Norwood is closed on 30 December
- Brixton Library’s temporary service at Brixton Recreation Centre will close earlier than its usual 8pm between December 27 and January 3 to match the Recreation Centre’s opening times over the holiday period.
Find opening and closing times for your local library for 27-30 Dec and from Jan 2, 2024.
You can renew or reserve books 24/7 online with your library card and PIN Home – Lambeth or via or our Library App (search your App store for ‘Lambeth Libraries’). You will need their library card and PIN for the first time they do this.
Noise and nuisance service
Our noise and nuisance service is closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. You can report noise nuisance online over the holiday and we re-open Dec 27-29 and usual hours Jan 2 2024.
Electoral services
Electoral services close for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, and open usual office hours 27-29 Dec and from 02 Jan. You can send an online request.
Housing repairs
Housing Repairs is closed from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, reopening at 0800 on Weds 27; we are closed again on Mon 1 Jan 2024 and reopen on 2 Jan.
In an emergency where you or anyone visiting your home is in danger call the out-of-hours service on 020 7926 1000.
You can report non-urgent repairs online over the Bank Holiday and we will get back to you when we are open.
