What Are Wakefield Council's Festive Opening Times?

The Christmas holiday is just around the corner, and that means things can get a bit chaotic. Trying to remember if it’s a turkey or goose day, who’s visiting on which day, and most importantly, when the bins are being collected. It’s a lot to juggle. To make life a little easier, Wakefield Council has laid out its opening times for all its services over the festive period. While some non-essential services will take a break, it's good to know that the essential teams are still on hand, especially if an urgent situation pops up. Here’s a simple guide to what’s open and what’s closed this December and January.

Essential services are still on hand

While many council office workers will be enjoying a well-deserved break, it’s not a full shutdown. The council has made sure that all essential services are still running. Think of things like social care for children and vulnerable adults, or the gritters that keep the roads safe if we get a sudden cold snap. So, while you might not be able to pop into the Town Hall about a planning query, the most important support systems will still be available throughout the holiday.

Tony Reeves, the Chief Executive at Wakefield Council, put it this way:

“Although we are closing some of our services over the festive period, many of our staff will be working over Christmas. Residents can be reassured that we are prepared for any potential emergencies.”

He also added a key point for any urgent issues: “If it’s an urgent matter or there is severe weather our teams can be contacted 24/7 through customer services, either over the phone or online. On behalf of everyone, I wish residents a happy Christmas and a restful New Year.”

Council buildings: Wakefield One and the Town Hall

If you need to visit a main council building, take note of the changes. Most non-essential services will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 24 December and will reopen properly on Monday 5 January. The main Customer Access Point at Wakefield One will be open from 8:30am to 3pm on Christmas Eve (Wednesday 24 December). The reception at the Town Hall will be open a little longer, from 8:30am to 5pm on the same day. After that, both will be closed until the New Year. One thing to remember is that the Register Office will still be open for any pre-booked appointments, even when the main reception is closed.

Bin collections and recycling centres

Let’s be honest, Christmas creates a mountain of rubbish. All that wrapping paper, cardboard boxes, and leftover food packaging has to go somewhere. Every household should have already received a new collection calendar for the festive period, but if it’s gone missing in the Christmas chaos, the details are also available on the council’s ‘Where I Live’ web page. It’s definitely worth checking, as your usual collection day might have shifted.

The Household Waste Recycling Centres will be open for most of the holiday, but they will be closed on Christmas Day (Thursday 25 December), Boxing Day (Friday 26 December), and New Year's Day (Thursday 1 January). Be warned, these centres get incredibly busy between Christmas and New Year. If you can, it’s probably best to avoid going during peak times. A little local knowledge: the South Kirkby centre is often quieter than the one in Glasshoughton. There are also around 30 ‘Bring Sites’ dotted around the district for any extra recycling you might have. These sites are a great service for getting rid of glass, paper, and even small electrical items.

Libraries, museums, and Pontefract Castle

Looking for something to do with the family over the holiday? Many of the local cultural spots have slightly different opening times. It’s a good idea to check before you head out. Here’s a quick rundown of when they will be closed and when they open again in January:

• Normanton Library: Closes Tuesday 23 December at 6pm.
• Castleford, Horbury and Stanley Libraries: Close Tuesday 23 December at 5pm.
• Hemsworth Library: Closes Tuesday 23 December at 2pm.
• All other libraries: Close on Wednesday 24 December at 1pm.

All libraries will resume their normal opening hours from Monday 5 January. For history buffs, the grounds of Pontefract Castle will be open until 1pm on Wednesday 24 December, reopening on Saturday 3 January. The museums in Castleford, Wakefield, and Pontefract will also be closing on either Tuesday 23 or Wednesday 24 December and will open their doors again on Monday 5 January.

Leisure centres and country parks

If you want to walk off the Christmas pudding or just get some fresh air, the local parks are a great option. Pugneys Country Park’s car park will remain open, though the café and toilets will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year's Day. They open again on Saturday 27 December. It’s a similar story for Anglers Country Park, with its centre, café and toilets closing at 4pm on Tuesday 23 December and reopening on Saturday 27 December, but closed again on New Year's Day.

For those looking for a swim or a gym session, the leisure centre opening times vary:

• Sun Lane, Minsthorpe, and Aspire @ The Park: These centres close on Wednesday 24 December and reopen on Saturday 27 December. They have different hours until New Year's Eve, are closed on Thursday 1 January, and fully reopen on Friday 2 January.
• Normanton, Thornes Park Stadium, and Featherstone: These will close on the afternoon of Wednesday 24 December and won’t reopen until Friday 2 January.

Bereavement services

This can be a difficult time of year for many, and it’s important to know that support and services are still available. The main Bereavement Services office in Normanton will close at 3pm on Christmas Eve. It will reopen on Monday 29 December and Tuesday 30 December with normal hours, and close at 3pm on Wednesday 31 December. The office is closed on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December, and also on New Year's Day (Thursday 1 January).

The Wakefield and Pontefract Crematoria buildings will be closed from 3pm on Wednesday 24 December, reopening on Monday 29 December. They are also closed over the weekend of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December and on New Year's Day. However, the grounds at both crematoria will remain open every day for visitors. The Book of Remembrance rooms will also be open from 9am to 4:30pm every single day, including Christmas Day. For any urgent burial arrangements, a special service is available on Saturday, Sunday, and Bank Holidays (except Christmas Day) by calling the council's contact centre.

Registration services

The Registration service, which handles things like birth and marriage certificates, closes at 3pm on Wednesday 24 December. It will be open for a short time on Saturday 27 December, and again on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 December. The copy certificate service is closed from Christmas Eve until Monday 5 January 2026. If you need an urgent certificate during that time, you can order one directly from the General Register Office. For any truly urgent matters, like arrangements for a marriage by special licence, a service is available by calling the contact centre between 8:30am and 5pm on Saturday, Sunday, and Bank Holidays (again, excluding Christmas Day).

Local markets

Fancy a trip to the market? Just be aware that all markets will be closed on Thursday 25 December, Friday 26 December, and Thursday 1 January. They will be open on other days, providing a great place to pick up some fresh produce or last-minute gifts.

Getting help in an emergency

Finally, and most importantly, help for any urgent problems is always available. The main council telephone line (0345 8 506 506) will remain open 24 hours a day. For anything that isn’t an emergency, it’s best to use the My Account feature on the council’s website. For social care emergencies, the Social Care Direct line (0345 8 503 503) is also available 24/7. All council services will be fully back to their normal opening times from Monday 5 January 2026, ready for the new year.