Ipswich Borough Council will continue to operate many services over the Christmas and New Year period, including HEARS, bin collections, car parks, fitness centres, swimming pools, theatres, and parks.
Customer Services
Our Customer Service Centre will be closed on 24 December, 25 December and 1 January.
For information about Customer Services, visit: Customer services | ipswich.gov.uk
Housing repairs and other service enquiries can be raised online 24/7 at: My Ipswich
Home Emergency Alarm Response Service (HEARS)
The Ipswich HEARS service are on duty 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, so there is no change to the service provision over Christmas and New Year,
Find out more about the HEARS service at: www.hearsalarm.co.uk
Bin collections
Brown bin collections
There will be no brown bin collections between 29 December 2025 and 12 January 2026.
Brown bin collections will resume from Tuesday 13 January 2025.
If you subscribe to our garden waste collection service, don't forget to leave your real Christmas tree (minus decorations) by your brown bin - we'll collect it for free.
Black bin collections
Normal collection date Christmas collection date
Tuesday 23 December Monday 22 December
Wednesday 24 December Tuesday 23 December
Thursday 25 December Wednesday 24 December
Friday 26 December Saturday 27 December
Blue bin collections
Normal collection date Christmas collection date
Tuesday 30 December No change
Wednesday 31 December No change
Thursday 1 January Friday 2 January
Friday 2 January Saturday 3 January
You’ll also find this information about festive bin collections at: Collections over the festive period 2025/26 | ipswich.gov.uk
Cemeteries and Crematorium
Ipswich Cemetery Grounds remain open to visitors every day (Monday - Friday 7.30 – 4.30, Saturdays 9.00-4.30, Sundays & Bank Holidays 10.00-4.30). The Cemeteries Office will be closed 25 December, 26 December, and 1 January.
For service information visit: Home - Ipswich Cemeteries and Crematorium - Ipswich Borough Council
Crown Car Park
Open 24 hours a day apart from Christmas Day when the car park will be closed.
Free pre-Christmas car parking at Crown Car Park - Available from 10am on Sunday 14 December until 8am the following Monday morning and Sunday 21December from 10am until 8am the following Monday morning.
For further information visit: Crown Street car park | ipswich.gov.uk
Find more details about parking in Ipswich at: Where to park | ipswich.gov.uk
Housing Options (homelessness and advice)
Normal opening hours are Monday – Friday, 8.30m – 7pm. Closed on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
Housing Options | ipswich.gov.uk
Ipswich Market
Ipswich Market will be open daily (9am – 4pm) on Tuesday 16, Thursday 18, Friday 19, Saturday 20, Sunday 21, Monday 22, Tuesday 23, Wednesday 24, Saturday 27, Tuesday 30, Wednesday 31 December and Friday 2 January. It will be closed on 25 and 25 December, plus Sunday 28 and Monday 29 December, and Thursday 1 January.
Find out more about Ipswich Market at: Ipswich Market | ipswich.gov.uk
Ipswich Theatres
Ipswich Regent Theatre is closed on 25 December and 1 January. The 2025 festive pantomime Cinderella is now on with performances on dates throughout December. Book tickets at: Cinderella - Christmas Panto - Ipswich Regent Theatre
Visit: What's On for show listings.
The Corn Exchange is closed from 15 to 17 December and from Friday 19 December to Friday 2 January.
See: Corn Exchange
Museums
Ipswich Museum and Ipswich Art Gallery remain closed during refurbishment works.
Christchurch Mansion will be closed on 24 December, 25 December, 26 December, and 1 January.
Plan your visit to the Mansion online at: Visit Christchurch Mansion | Ipswich Museums
Parks
Parks in Ipswich are open every day of the year – unless an icy snap makes the footpaths dangerous. The Reg Driver Centre in Christchurch Park will be closed on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
Whether you are new to Ipswich, want to explore somewhere different, or even want to enjoy your local park in more depth, our park maps identify favourite circular walking routes around the paths of 12 of our parks and open spaces Park Walks | ipswich.gov.uk
Details about all Ipswich Borough Council’s parks and open space: Parks and open spaces | ipswich.gov.uk
Repairs
Raise a repair by registering for an online account.
- In hours tradeperson – normal opening hours Monday – Friday, 8am-5pm. Closed on 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.
- Out of hours (emergency repairs only) available 365 days of the year outside of normal office hours.
If you have an emergency after 5pm or during a weekend, telephone 01473 432000.
More information at: Council housing repairs service | ipswich.gov.uk
Shopmobility
Ipswich Borough Council’s Shopmobility service will be closed on Sunday 21, Thursday 25, Friday 26, Sunday 28 December and 1 January.
Ipswich Shopmobility | ipswich.gov.uk
Sport and Fitness
Crown Pools will have reduced opening hours on 24 December and 31 December (8am – 4pm) and will be closed on 25 December, 26 December, and on 1 January.
Fore Street Pool will be closed from 24 December to 1 January, reopening on 2 January.
Gainsborough and Whitton Sports Centres have reduced opening hours on 24 December and 31 December (8.30am – 4pm) and will be closed on 25 December, 26 December, and on 1 January.
For other opening times, visit: www.ipswichfit.co.uk
Town Hall
The Town Hall will be closed on Sunday 1 December, Thursday 25 December, Friday 26 December, Sunday 28 December and Thursday 1 January. Open during normal operating times of 10am-4pm on other weekdays and Saturdays.