Find out what's open when over the festive period.
Recycling and rubbish collections
This year, bin collections due on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's day have been moved. All other collection days remain the same.
- Collections due on Wednesday 25 December will be collected Saturday 28 December
- Collections due on Thursday 26 December will be collected Sunday 29 December
- Collections due on Wednesday 1 January will be collected Saturday 4 January
Please make sure your bins are out by 6.30am on your collection day as collections may be earlier over the festive period.
Have a greener Christmas - reduce your Christmas waste
We have information on how you can reduce your waste this Christmas and what can and can't be recycled. If you're still not sure, search our waste directory for individual items and how to deal with them.
Greener footprints have produced a guide on 25 ways to make your Christmas special – without it costing the earth.
Our household recycling centres will be open as usual throughout the festive period (except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day). You can take your real Christmas trees to be composted with garden waste. Please make sure to book your slot.
Christmas tree collection
If you're based in and around Herefordshire, for only £15, you can book St Michael's Hospice Hereford team of staff and volunteers to come and collect your real Christmas tree between 10 to12 January 2025.
You can book online on their website.
Consider buying a Christmas tree with a root so that it can be replanted and dug up again the following year. Otherwise, consider a reusable, artificial tree.
Customer service centre opening times
Blueschool House will be closed for council services (Customer Services, Housing Solutions and Homepoint) on Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January 2025.
Museums, libraries and archives opening times
The Black and White House Museum opening hours:
- 24 to 26 December: Closed
- 27 to 28 December: Open 10am - 5pm
- 29 December: Open 11am – 4pm
- 30 December: Open 12pm - 3pm
- 1 January 2025: Closed
Library opening times
Opening times for Herefordshire libraries can be found on our libraries section.
HARC opening times
The Herefordshire Archives and Records Centre (HARC) will be closed on Wednesday 25 December, Thursday 26 December and Wednesday 1 January 2025.
Pharmacy opening times
Over the festive period the NHS remains open and available to anyone who needs it.
There will be a change in opening times for some NHS services, including GP practices and pharmacies, with some closures between 25 December and 2 January. Because of this, people are reminded to order their repeat prescriptions in good time using the NHS App, their GP practice’s website or by phoning their GP practice.
Local pharmacists can also give expert, confidential advice as well as medicines for minor ailments such as colds, tummy troubles and much more. Anyone visiting a pharmacy must wear a face covering, unless they are exempt. Individuals should not visit a pharmacy if they, or someone they live with, are experiencing any symptoms of Covid-19. Check your local pharmacy Christmas opening times.
Travel
For those travelling during the Christmas period, please follow Herefordshire Highways on Twitter and Facebook for gritting updates and emergency road closures, or view live traffic flow information online.
Buses
You can keep up-to-date with any service changes on our website or follow @HfdsBuses on Twitter. You can check service times and plan your journey on Traveline.
Keep warm this winter
As temperatures lower over the winter, please take time to check that older neighbours and relatives are safe, warm and well, especially if they live alone or have an illness. Find out more on our Winter health, warmth and safety pages and warm spaces webpage.
Foodbanks
There is a food bank or community larder in each of the county’s market towns and city. Whether you need to use one or donate find out all the information on our Talk Community web pages
Cost of living
If you are worried about the cost of Christmas, we have help and advice available for you.
Homeless
If you know anyone who may be homeless over Christmas, there is information on our website to help including information on the winter shelter and hot food provision.
Veteran and Armed Forces community support
Local support is available either side of the festive break from our armed forces charities:
Herefordshire Veteran Support Centre, 100 Widemarsh St, Hereford, HR4 9HG. 01432 674863.
Opening times:
- 24 December: 9am to 12pm
- 25 and 26 December: Closed
- 27 December: 9am to 5pm
- 28 and 29 December: Closed
- 30 December: 9am to 5pm
- 31 December: 9am to 12pm
- 1 January 2025: Closed
SSAFA Herefordshire will respond as soon as practicable throughout the festive period. Please call 01432 273932. Alternatively please call the SSAFA West Midlands helpline direct on 020 4566 9116, or email ewm@ssafa.org.uk.
For further information, please look at our Support for our Armed Forces Community pages
We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
