Christmas and New Year arrangements

Council office closing times 

Borough Council services at the Hinckley Hub will close at 5pm on Wednesday 24 December and re-open at 8:30am on Friday 2 January 2025.  

In an emergency, call 01455 251137

Refuse and recycling arrangements 

Alternate arrangements for refuse (black bin) and recycling (blue-lid bin) collections due on Thursday 25 December, Friday 26 December 2025 and Thursday 1 January 2026 are as follows:

• Refuse due on Thursday 25 December will be collected on Monday 22 December 
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Thursday 25 December will be collected on Monday 29 December 
• Refuse due on Friday 26 December will be collected on Tuesday 23 December 
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Friday 26 December will be collected on Tuesday 30 December 
• Refuse due on Thursday 1 January will be collected on Wednesday 31 December 
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Thursday 1 January will be collected on Friday 2 January 

For residents living in rural west areas of the borough who usually have garden and refuse bins collected on the same day, collection arrangements are as follows:

• Refuse due on Thursday 25 December will be collected on Wednesday 24 December 
• Refuse due on Friday 26 December will be collected on Monday 29 December 
• Recycling (blue-lid) due on Thursday 1 January will be collected on Friday 2 January 

 All other refuse and recycling collections will continue on their usual days during the Christmas and New Year period.   
 
The garden waste (brown-bin) collection service will be suspended for two weeks during the Christmas and New Year period (last collection Friday 19 December and collections starting again Monday 5 January 2026). Full details of bin collection dates

Free parking on Saturdays in Hinckley

Chrismas shoppers in Hinckley will once again be able to enjoy free car parking in selected town centre car parks on Saturdays this festive season.  

Shoppers can park for free from 9am in the Lower Bond Street, Trinity West and Castle car parks on 6, 13 and 20 December as well as North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College car park (LE10 1QQ). 
 
The Borough Council has agreed to repeat the popular offer again this year in order to thank shoppers for their loyalty and to increase trade for shops and businesses.  
 
Shoppers are reminded that parking is free in all council run car parks on Sundays throughout the year. 
 
Shoppers and visitors can also enjoy festive music from the Salvation Army on 6, 13, 20 December at 10:30am - 12 noon (weather dependent). 

Hinckley Market at Christmas 

There will be markets in Hinckley on Friday 19 December, Saturday 20 December and Monday 22 December, plus Saturday 27 December and Monday 29 December. Markets will return to the usual Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from Friday 2 January onwards.

Carols around the tree 

Wrap up warm and enjoy singing well known carols around the tree on Friday 12 December at 4:15pm – 5pm in partnership with Churches Together, Hinckley town centre. 

Festive Feast and Craft Market 

A Sunday food and craft market offering a selection of hot and cold food plus crafts, collectibles and gifts will be in Market Place, Hinckley on Sunday 14 December from 10am until 4pm.   
 
There will be 45 plus stallholders including street foods, warming mulled wine and cider, crafts, gifts, collectibles and more plus live music, Santa on Stilts and entertainment from Fosse 107. 

Hinckley Cemetery 

Hinckley Cemetery main gates will be open Christmas Eve 7:30am to 4pm and Christmas Day through to New Year’s Day 9am to 4pm. Pedestrian access is open 24 hours every day. 

Hinckley Leisure Centre 

Hinckley Leisure Centre will close at 12 noon on 24 December and remain closed on 25 and 26 December. The centre’s opening hours on 27 December will be 8am to 6pm, 28 December 8am to 6pm, 29 December 8am to 6pm, 30 December 8am to 6pm and 31 December 7am to 4pm and remain closed on 1 January 2026. The centre will revert to normal opening hours from Friday 2 January. For further information including the swim and class timetable visit the leisure centre's website (placesleisure.org)

The community houses 

Barwell, Earl Shilton and Wykin Community Houses close on Friday 19 December, 2:30pm and re-open on Monday 5 January 2026. 

Road closures:

• Road closures over the festive period (one.network)