Find out what support and facilities are open during the festive period at both the College Lane and de Havilland campuses.
- University opening times
- Student Support Services
- Ask Herts
- Learning Resources Centres (LRCs)
- Campus shop
- Food and drink on campus
- Festive Food
- Staying in halls this Christmas?
- The Forum bar and nightclub
- Herts SU
- Chaplaincy
- Day Nursery
- Security and emergencies
- Adverse weather conditions
- Uno buses
University opening times
University offices will be closed from 12.00 on Wednesday 24 December 2025 until 08.30 on Monday 5 January 2026. However, there will still be plenty of support available during this time.
Student support services
If you are living on campus and need to chat with anyone during the festive break, just give 01707 281010 a call and ask to speak to a Residential Assistant (RA). Our out-of-hours RA team will be available 24/7 over the Christmas festive period, so there is always someone you can call.
⚠️ Our wellbeing service is closed from 12.00 on Wednesday 24 December 2025 until 08.30 Monday 5 January 2026.
To access our support, you can refer yourself by completing the Student Self Referral and Consent to Share form. Will will be in contact in the new year.
If you would like to access some additional support over the closure, please see below for a range of services.
⚠️If your mental or physical health symptoms get worse, please visit your GP/Doctor as they are your primary care contact. Alternatively, you can call 111 or 999 to access immediate/urgent support.
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24/7 Helpline |
Call 0808 196 3533 to speak to a counsellor, self-refer to their counselling service, receive non-urgent medical advice and even financial advice. Our student assistance service is available 24/7, every day of the year. |
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Call 0808 8084994 to get free confidential support from a trained volunteer, 7 days a week 15.00 - 24.00. Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24-hour support Webchat 16.00 - 23.00 Email for a response within 24 hours |
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Call 0800 585858 17.00 - 24.00. Webchat 17.00 -24.00. |
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Call 0800 068 4141 for confidential suicide prevention advice contact Papyrus |
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Call 116123 for 24-hour support Email for a response within 24 hours |
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NHS Mental Health Helpline |
Call 01438 843322 which is open 17.00 - 21.00 weekdays and available 24 hours on weekends and bank holidays. |
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Explore resources on where to get help in crisis. Join Side by Side, Mind's online community. |
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Read on where you can get support. |
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Read on where and how you can get support. |
Ask Herts
All Ask Herts services will be closed from midday on Wednesday 24 December 2025 until Monday 5 January 2026 (specific dates/times show in the table below). Any emails received or queries raised through the Ask Herts contact form after midday on 24 December will be responded to from Monday 5 January 2026 onwards.
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In person-services |
Closing Date |
Times/days |
Re-opening date |
Times/days |
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Ask Herts Hutton |
Tuesday 23 December 2025 |
15.45 |
Monday 5 January 2026 |
10:00 |
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Ask Herts de Haviland |
Tuesday 23 December 2025 |
15.45 |
Monday 5 January 2026 |
10:00 |
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Ask Herts Innovation |
Friday 12 December 2025 |
15:00 |
Monday 5 January 2026 |
10:00 |
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Phonelines |
Wednesday 24 December 2025 |
11.45 |
Monday 5 January 2026 |
10:00 |
Click for more information about the Ask Herts Hubs.
Learning Resources Centres (LRCs)
The College Lane and de Havilland LRCs remain open 24/7 over the winter vacation. See below for a summary of what’s available in the Learning Resources Centres (LRCs) over the winter break and you can find out more here: LRC Christmas and New Year opening and services
Study skills support
- Our face-to-face Study Success Hub activity will finish on Thursday 11 December and will reopen again on Tuesday 20 January 2026
- Online Library SkillUp chat will be available until 16:00 Tuesday 23 December and reopen at 10:00 Monday 5 January 2026
For more information and to continue to access all our online study skills resources and support go to the Library SkillUP (Canvas module)
Information on other support services can be found on the Study Success Hub page.
Anytime, anywhere access to our services
Whether you are studying on campus or at home over the winter break don’t forget you can access our online services wherever you are:
- Extensive digital book and journal collection via the Online library and Module Reading List/ Resource List from Canvas
- Library SkillUp (Canvas module) specialist online study skills support with lots of useful help on topics such as searching, reading, referencing and evaluating
- Remote desktop service - access an LRC or Lab PC anytime, anywhere
- Additional online resources including subject specific resources; images, video and audio resources; and general reference materials.
Support services
- LRC Welcome Desks will close at 17:00 Tuesday 23 December and reopen at 10:00 Monday 5 January 2026.
- Helpdesk staff will be available for bookable face-to-face appointments until Tuesday 23 December.
- Our on-site technical support will be unavailable during the University closure period (12:00 Wednesday 24 December to 08:00 Monday 5 January 2026)
How to get help
- Search on Ask Herts 24/7 for online help and information on any of our services.
- LRC Information Points are available on all floors of the LRCs to look up books or find answers to common questions on Ask Herts.
- If you have any enquiries or a problem with a service you can contact our Helpdesk 24/7 via phone +44(0)1707 284678 or email helpdesk@herts.ac.uk You can also check the latest status of our services at herts.ac.uk/
- Search on Ask Herts 24/7 for online help and information on any of our services.
Campus shop
The campus shop on College Lane will be open 8.00 - 16.00 Monday to Friday. The shop will be closed on bank holidays and weekends.
Food and drink on campus
College Lane campus
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Outlet |
Closing |
Changes |
Opening |
Changes |
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Food Court |
Monday 15 December |
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Monday 5 January 2026 |
Monday 5 January 2026 : 11:30-15:00 |
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Starbucks |
Thursday 25 December |
Tuesday 23 December: 08:00-16:00 |
Friday 2 January 2026 |
Monday 5 January 2026: 08:00-16:00 |
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Subway |
Monday 15 December |
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Monday 12 January 2026: 11:00-18:00 |
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Café Rore |
Thursday 25 December |
Monday 22 December: 08:00-16:00 |
Monday 5 January 2026 |
Monday 5 January 2026: 08:00-16:00 |
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Café Spectra |
Monday 15 December |
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Monday 5 January 2026 |
Monday 5 January 2026: 08:00-16:00 |
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Campus Shop |
Thursday 25 December |
Monday 15 - Friday 19 December: 09:00-17:00 Monday 22 December: 09:00-17:00 |
Friday 2 January 2026 |
Monday 5 January 2026: 09:00-17:00
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Please find normal hours here
de Havilland campus
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Outlet |
Closing |
Changes |
Opening |
Changes |
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Food Court |
Monday 15 December |
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Monday 5 January 2026 |
Monday 5 January 2026: 11:30-15:00 |
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Café Ambition |
Thursday 25 December |
Monday 22 Dec: 08:00-16:00 |
Monday 5 January 2026 |
Tuesday 2 January 2026: 08:00-16:00 |
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Café Sport |
Closed on: Wednesday 24 December - Friday 26 December Thursday 1 January |
Monday 22 December: 09:00-18:00 Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December: 09:00-17:00 (reduced offer) Monday 29 December: 08:00-18:00 (reduced offer) Wednesday 31 December: 08:00-14:00 (reduced offer) |
Monday 5 January 2026 |
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Please find normal hours here
Festive food
From Monday 1 to Wednesday 10 December, join us at lunch time in the Food Courts for a Traditional Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings for £6.95.
Choose from Roast Turkey, a flavourful Guest Roast, or a delicious Vegetarian Tart - perfect for enjoying the festive spirit with friends and colleagues.
Still room for more? Finish off your meal with some Christmas Pudding or a Mince Pie!
On the go? We’ve got you covered! Starting from Monday 24 November, indulge in:
Festive Panini – available at Starbucks, Café Rore, Café Sports & Ambition.
Pigs in Blanket Mac & Cheese – served at Café Rore, Café Spectra & Ambition.
Specialty Christmas Cronuts – in all coffee outlets, perfectly paired with our seasonal hot drinks.
Staying in halls this Christmas?
Join the ResLife team at the Oval on the College Lane campus for a FREE lunch with games and prizes!
Please make sure you have booked a ticket from the details provided directly to your email address. All students currently living on campus have been invited to book for a 12pm or 1pm slot. You will have received an e-ticket which you need to show on your arrival. To assist staff working on the day please do not arrive until your timed slot.
The Forum bar and nightclub
Our last student event will be on Thursday 11 December. We will re-open for student events on Wednesday 28 January 2026
Herts Students' Union (SU)
The Students' Union will close for the Christmas break from 16.00 on Friday 19 December. It will re-open on Monday 5 January at 10.00. Please see our service opening hours below.
Welcome Desks
- Our Welcome Desk on College Lane on Tuesday 23 December. It will will close from 16.00. It will reopen on Monday 5 January at 10.00.
- Our Welcome Desk on de Havilland will close from 16.00 on Friday 12 December . It will reopen on Monday 19 January 2026 at 10.00.
Advice & Support
In-person appointments are available at the Advice & Support Centre up until 16.00 on Friday 12 December.
Email , telephone and Microsoft Teams appointments will be availableup until 16.00 on Friday 19 December.
Advice & Support will re-open for all apointments on Monday 5 January 2026, 10.00. The Advice & Support Centre will re-open for in-person appointments from 5 January 2026 at 10.00.
Chaplaincy
The Chaplaincy service will close at 12.00 on Wednesday 24 December and reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
University Christmas Carol Service
Come and join the Christmas Carol service and enjoy singing some popular carols supported by members of the Go Herts Choir.
It will be held in the Hutton Hub, College Lane, on Wednesday 4 December from 12.30, and stay for a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie to celebrate the season afterwards. add link to calendar
The Forum bar and nightclub
The last student event at The Forum this year will be on Thursday 11 December. The first student even in the new year will be on Wednesday 21 January 2026.
Day Nursery
The Nursery is open between 08:00 – 18:00 (Monday – Friday).
It will be closed on Bank Holidays and in between Christmas and New Year, in line with the University closures.
For further information please call 01707 284448 or email nursery@herts.ac.uk
Security and Emergencies
Security and Emergencies
If you need any assistance during the Winter break, please contact our out of hours security team by calling 01707 281010 (internal extension 1010).
In cases of emergency, please call the Emergency line 01707 285555 (internal extension 5555).
Adverse weather conditions
If there are any suspected forecasted adverse weather conditions over the holidays and you need more information on travelling in and out of campus, please visit the adverse weather management page
Uno buses
For changes to Unobus services, please visit the Unobus website.