Contacting us over Christmas 2025 and New Year
If you have an emergency and need to contact us out of hours, you can call us regarding a social care matter on 0300 123 6722, or a highways matter on 0300 123 6780.
During the festive season you can still use the 'Report It' to log highway faults.
You can also follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn where we will be able to respond during our office opening days detailed below, between 9am - 5pm.
Contact centre opening times
| Date | Opening times |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 23 December | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
| Wednesday 24 December (Christmas Eve) | Closed |
| Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day) | Closed |
| Friday 26 December (Boxing Day) | Closed |
| Saturday 27 December | Closed |
| Sunday 28 December | Closed |
| Monday 29 December | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
|
Tuesday 30 December |
8:00am - 5:00pm |
| Wednesday 31 December (New Year's Eve) | 8:00am - 5:00pm |
| Thursday 1 January 2026 (New Year's Day) | Closed |
| Friday 2 January 2026 to Sunday 4 January 2026 | Closed |
Parking
Arthur Street Preston offers pay and display parking every Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays throughout the year, including the Christmas period.
It will be open from Wednesday 24 through to Sunday 28 December, and Thursday 1 January to Sunday 4 January as a pay and display car park.
Pay and Display parking is also available at Preston bus station car park.
Park and ride
Park and Ride bus and car parking services over the Christmas and New Year period.
Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC)
Our Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.
Find out when Household Waste Recycling Centres are open during the Christmas period.
Buses
For details of bus services over the festive period see our bus service changes page.
On New Year's Day some bus companies will run a limited service.
For the latest service updates check with your local bus company or call Traveline on 0871 200 22 33 to speak to a travel advisor. They're open every day (calls from landlines cost 12p a minute plus your phone company's access charge)
Libraries
All our libraries will be closed on bank and public holidays. There are additional closures on extra statutory dates. However, Preston Harris will be open until noon on 24 December, and all day on Friday 2 January, which are days that all other libraries are closed on.
Find the individual opening times of your local library.
Museums
Christmas opening times of our museums.
Gawthorpe Hall is now closed to the general public until spring 2026.
Helmshore Mills Textile Museum, Judges' Lodgings and Queen Street Mill will be opening after the New Year on reduced hours until spring 2026 and will be closed on all bank holidays.
Helmshore Mills will be open from Wednesday 7 January and will be open weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11am to 4pm, until to the end of March 2026. This opening is for the museum side as well as the community café. Admission includes the two demonstrations of the working machinery on the Spinning Floor in Whitaker Mill, as well as two tours of Higher Mill.
Queen Street Mill will be open Wednesdays to Fridays from 12pm to 4pm, while Judges' Lodgings will be open on Fridays from 11am to 4pm.
Clitheroe Castle Museum
Clitheroe Castle Museum will be closed from Wednesday 24 December to Friday 26 December 2025, and on Wednesday 1 January 2025. The museum and castle grounds will be open to explore throughout the Christmas period. Normal winter opening hours will resume on 3 January
Clitheroe Castle Museum has special Betwixtmas family fun activities running every day from 27 to 30 December from 12 noon to 4pm, including an exciting snowman competition hunt, animal key ring crafting, a medieval competition quiz and much more all taking place to keep the children entertained over the holidays.
During opening hours, don't miss our Hidden Hoards and Fascinating finds exhibition which showcases archaeological treasures from across Lancashire (included with admission).
For details of all the latest events and activities at Clitheroe Castle Museum, see our event listings.
Lancaster Castle
Let our expert guides take you on a fascinating step back in time at one of England's best-preserved castles this Christmas. Experience the chilling old cells and the medieval Hadrian's Tower.
You can also explore our impressive Shire Hall with one of the UK's finest displays of heraldic shields.
For opening times for Christmas and New Year, admission charges and to plan your visit see the Lancaster Castle website.
Archives (Record office)
Opening times for Lancashire Archives including the Christmas period. Please note that there is visitor parking at Lancashire Archives available during opening hours, including two spaces for Blue Badge holders.
More information and contact details
For services not included here, please contact individual venues and services