Many services operate over the Christmas period, but some will have reduced hours or closures on certain days. Here’s everything you need to know about using your local services during the festive season.

Our emergency phone line will be open 24 hours a day. Call 020 8854 8888. 

Parks

Following the Government's announcement on 19 December that London is now in Tier Four, six people are no longer allowed to meet outdoors (or indoors). One person can meet with one other person from a different household outside in a park or other approved outdoor space.

Park playgrounds, outdoor gyms, ball courts and skate parks will remain open for people to use with others within your household, support bubble, or with one person from another household.

Park cafes are closed, except for takeaways and deliveries.

Other park facilities will remain open for individual exercise, and for people to use with others within their household, support bubble or one other person from another household.

The Tarn, Fairy Hill Park, Southwood Park, Hornfair Park, St Alfege Park, St Marys Park and Plumstead Gardens are closed on Christmas Day. 

Shrewsbury Park and Eltham Park South car parks are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Adventure play centres

Closed 20 December – 1 January

Cemeteries and Eltham Crematorium

In Tier Four, opening times for our cemeteries and crematorium are still 9am to 4pm, and vehicle access is allowed. These arrangements will be kept under constant review, and may be subject to change with little or no notice, given the changing nature of the current situation.

All our cemetery grounds in Woolwich, Eltham, Charlton, Plumstead and Greenwich will remain open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Floral tributes

In Eltham Crematorium the Garden of Remembrance, Plaque Courts, Memorial Niches will be open every day, from 9am to 4pm.

The Chapel of Remembrance (Book Chapel) and the Flower Pavilion will remain closed until further notice as social distancing cannot be maintained inside these buildings.

Due to the large number of floral tributes normally placed in the Flower Pavilion, Niches and Plaque Courts during the festive season, floral tributes will not be removed during the festive season, and we have created an additional space where flowers can be left until 7 January 2021. This is in the Garden of Remembrance against the rear wall of the North Cloisters by the large Oak tree, on the right as you enter the grounds.

The pedestrian gates in Riefield Road and Rochester Way will remain open during these times.

Council service centres

The Woolwich Centre is closed except for emergency issues. Find out all the information here.

The Eltham Centre is closed until further notice.

Council homes

Caretaking: no service 25 December. Limited service 28 December and 1 January.
Repairs: emergency repairs only 25 December – 3 January.
For emergency repairs or urgent caretaking issues call 020 8854 8888. 

Leisure

Leisure centres are temporarily closed until further notice. 

Some outdoor activities (including outdoor swimming) remain available at Charlton Lido and Lifestyle Club

Some leisure centres will be open 12pm-1pm on certain days over the school holidays to allow children and young people to collect holiday meals. More information on holiday meals. 

Libraries

Libraries are temporarily closed until further notice.

Some libraries will be open 12pm-1pm on certain days over the school holidays to allow children and young people to collect holiday meals. More information on holiday meals. 

Recycling and rubbish collections

Find out when your bins will be collected over the festive season.