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. 

Adventure Play Areas 

Closed from 19 December to 2 January. 

Cemeteries  

Open from 9am to 4pm daily including Christmas and New Year.  

Eltham Crematorium

The Garden of Remembrance will be open as normal from 9am to 4pm (the Chapel of Remembrance, location of the Books of Remembrance, will close 3.45pm) throughout the festive period. Office hours as normal on Friday 23 and return at 8.30am on Wednesday 28. The last Garden of Remembrance pick up of wilted floral tributes will be Thursday 15 December and then not again until Thursday 5 January 2023, to allow Christmas wreaths to be on display as long as possible.

Contacting the Council 

The contact centres and phone lines will be open normally apart from bank holidays and weekends. At this time an out of hours service will be available. 

The phone line will be open for an out of hours service throughout the holidays. In an emergency call 020 8854 8888. 

Direct contact details for all Council teams

Council homes 

Tenancy, repairs and caretaking will be running a normal service, apart from bank holidays and weekends, when there is an out of hours service for emergencies.  

The following housing services will be running a reduced service between 28 to 30 December, from 9am to 5pm... 

• Housing Inclusion will provide an emergency service for people who are homeless on the day and need urgent advice and assistance. 

• Temporary Accommodation will offer emergency support for urgent queries, or emergency repair issues. 

Call 020 8854 8888 (24-hour line). 

Leisure centres 

Between 19 December and 2 January, all leisure centres will be operating significantly reduced programmes and opening hours. Additionally, on:

21, 25, 26 December and 1 January 2023 all leisure centres will be closed. 
24 December Coldharbour, Sutcliffe Park and Plumstead Centre will be closed. 
27 December Coldharbour and Plumstead Centre will be closed.  
31 December Coldharbour will be closed. 

Check opening hours and book sessions at better.org.uk/greenwich 

Libraries 

21, 25, 26, 27 December and 1 and 2 January 2023 all libraries will be closed. 
24 December to 2 January Charlton House Library will be closed. 
28 December Abbey Wood Library, Coldharbour Library, Plumstead Library, Slade Library and West Greenwich Library will be closed. 
24 and 31 December All libraries open from 9am to 1pm except for Charlton House Library which will remain closed. The Greenwich Centre Library will open at 10am.

Check opening hours at better.org.uk/library/london/greenwich

Parks 

The Tarn, Fairy Hill Park, Southwood Park, Hornfair Park, St Alfeges Pak, St Marys and Plumstead Gardens will all be closed on Christmas Day. 

Healthcare and Emergencies 

If you need clinical advice or medicines for minor health concerns, such as coughs, colds, upset stomach, aches and pains, you can visit your local pharmacy. 

Many are open late and at weekends and you do not need an appointment. 

If you have a non-life-threatening condition, please call 111 first. 

The Source 

Horn Parks' drop-in healthcare clinic the Source, will be closed for additional days during the festive period.

Dates of closure include: 26, 27 and 29 December. 

Waste collections and recycling 

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