Christmas 2024 service information

The Town Hall and the Contact Centre telephone lines will be closed from 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open at 9am on Thursday 02 January 2025.

In the event of an emergency, please call our out of office telephone line on 01772 906916. 

Christmas events in Preston 2024

To find out what's going on in Preston for Christmas Visit Preston - Christmas events in Preston 2024.

Free Christmas city centre parking

We are offering free city centre parking at Penny Street car park and Trinity Square car park throughout December 2024.

Please note: the free parking periods are from the date and time shown until midnight the same day.

Visit Free Christmas city centre parking

Christmas help and support

We are urging people in Preston to make a difference to those who are less fortunate and those who will not have a home this Christmas by supporting local organisations that work with homeless people and those who have experienced homelessness.

For information on how you can help and where you can access support please visit the Help in Preston Christmas help and support page.

Visit the Help in Preston Christmas help and support page

Waste and recycling

Alternate week collections will continue over the Christmas period with most collections being unaffected.

Your bin collection may be affected if it is on the following dates:

• Wednesday 25 December 2024
• Thursday 26 December 2024
• Wednesday 1 January 2025

If your property is affected by the Christmas period, your bin will be stickered to notify you of any collection changes. 

To view possible collection changes please use our find your bin collection day search tool:

Find your bin collection day

Please note: we will not collect any extra general rubbish in addition to what is inside your normal wheelie bin.

Recycling collections

Unfortunately, we are unable to rearrange recycling collections that are affected over the Christmas period. All recycling will be collected on the next scheduled collection.

Extra recycling can be placed next to recycling bins in untied carrier bags. Please make sure any cardboard boxes are folded flat.

Recycle your Christmas tree

If you have a real Christmas tree no higher than 6ft, we can recycle it for you.

To find out how to recycle your tree as a non garden waste subscriber please visit recycle your Christmas tree.

Reducing, reusing and recycling other Christmas items

For top tips on reducing, reusing and recycling other Christmas items please visit our reduce, reuse, recycle this Christmas.

Garden waste collections

Garden waste collections will stop on Friday 13 December 2024 and will start again on Monday 13 January 2025.

Household Support Fund

The Household Support Fund team will close from 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open again at 9am on Thursday 02 January 2025.

Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library

The Harris Museum is temporarily closed as it creates it new exciting space.

Take a look at their Autumn guide at The Harris - Autumn Guide.

The Guild Hall Library and IT Centre

The Guild Hall Library and IT Centre will be closed on the following dates:

• Tuesday 24 December
• Wednesday 25 December
• Thursday 26 December
• Wednesday 1 January 2025

Normal opening times will then resume from Thursday 02 January 2025.

Preston Market

The following information gives opening hours over the festive period for our Market Hall and Outdoor Market.

For more information on opening times and events visit the Preston Market website. 

Please note: individual trader opening times may vary, for individual trader opening hours visit Preston Market Hall.

• Sunday 15 December - 10am - 4pm - Open
• Monday 16 December - Saturday 21 December  - Open
• Sunday 22 December: 10am - 4pm - Open
• Monday 23 December - Tuesday 24 December: Open
• Wednesday 25 December - Thursday 26 December: Closed
• Friday 27 December - Saturday 28 December: Open
• Sunday 29 December: Closed
• Monday 30 December - Tuesday 31 December: Open
• Wednesday 1 January: Closed
• Thursday 2 January: Open

Avenham Park Pavilion Cafe

The Pavilion Cafe in Avenham Park is only closed Christmas Day.

The Cafe is open every day over the Christmas period 10am till 4pm.

Christmas parking closures

Avenham car park will be closed on Christmas Day and New Years Day.

The car park will be secured on Christmas Eve at 8pm and re-opened on Boxing Day at the normal operating times. For New Years Eve, the car park will be secured at 8pm and reopened on the 2 January 2025 at the normal time.

Avenham Multi Storey Car Park will be open as normal on:

• Thursday 26 December 2024
• Friday 27 December 2024
• Saturday 28 December 2024
• Sunday 29 December 2024
• Monday 30 December 2024
• Tuesday 31 December 2024
• Thursday 02 January 2025

Please email - parking@preston.gov.uk with any queries.

Cemetery and Crematorium

Cemetery Office

The Cemetery office will close at 2pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and re-open again at 9am on Friday 27 December 2024. 

The office will close again on Tuesday 31 December 2024 at 4pm and re open again at 9am on Thursday 02 January 2025. 

Crematorium 

The crematorium will be unavailable from 2pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and re-open again at 9am on Friday 27 December 2024.

The Crematorium will then be unavailable from 4pm on Tuesday 31 December 2024 and will re-open again at 9am on Thursday 02 January 2025. 

Preston Crematorium Book of Remembrance

You can view the Book of Remembrance online here.

Dog collection service

To report a stray dog over the Christmas period please call 01772 906916.

Our dog collection service will be in operation over the festive period and the Town Hall's closure, however, it will not be in operation on the following dates:

• Christmas Day
• Boxing Day
• New Year's Day

Dangerous buildings

In the event of a dangerous building please ring our out of hours emergency number on 01772 906916.

All other services

All other Preston City Council services will close at 12pm on 24 December 2024 and re-open again at 9am on Thursday 02 January 2025.