Oxford

Mongolians are UK 'visa nationals', so a visitor visa is needed in advance; the ETA electronic authorisation is only for visa-exempt nationalities. Apply online on gov.uk, pay the £135 fee for a visa of up to 6 months, then give fingerprints and a photo at the VFS Global centre in Ulaanbaatar. A decision usually takes 3 weeks; apply no earlier than 3 months before travel. For frequent trips a 2-year multiple-entry visa costs £506.

Tip: Buy your ticket after the visa is issued, or choose a refundable fare.

Show the purpose of your trip and your reasons to return: recent bank statements, an employer letter with leave approval, hotel bookings, an itinerary, and an invitation if visiting friends or family. Anything not in English needs a certified translation. Your passport must be valid for your whole stay in the UK.

Even just changing planes in London without passing the border, Mongolians need a Direct Airside Transit visa (£41.50) — not needed with a valid Standard Visitor, US, Canadian or Schengen visa. Hospital admission in Britain is very expensive for visitors, so insurance covering medical treatment is a must.

Visa holders queue in 'All other passports' and show the officer their passport, hotel address and return ticket; answer briefly about the purpose of the trip. No landing card to fill in. Customs green/red channels — meat and dairy products (including borts and aaruul) may not be brought into Britain.

From Heathrow Terminal 5 (stand 10) and the Central Bus Station (by Terminals 2 and 3; free shuttle from Terminal 4) to Oxford's Gloucester Green station in ~80–90 minutes, every 20 minutes by day and every 30–45 minutes at night. Singles from £25, period returns (within a month) from £31.50; buy from the driver by card or cash.

Tip: Luggage goes in the hold under the coach — the best option with big suitcases.

GWR trains from London Paddington take ~1 hour and Chiltern trains from Marylebone ~80 minutes, each twice an hour. An Off-Peak Return costs £37.80 (after the weekday morning peak); Advance tickets are much cheaper. Oxford station is a 10-minute walk from the centre.

If your phone supports eSIM, install a UK or Europe eSIM from Airalo, Ubigi or similar before flying — it works as soon as you land. Heathrow terminals, The Airline coaches and most Oxford cafés and museums have free Wi-Fi.

Tip: Download Oxford in Google Maps for offline use.

EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three are the main networks; giffgaff, Lebara and Lyca are cheaper. SIMs are sold at Boots pharmacies, supermarkets and network shops without a passport; top up with a monthly bundle. Airport SIM vending machines cost more than city shops.

From Carfax crossroads, Christ Church, the Covered Market, the Bodleian, Radcliffe Square, the Ashmolean and the punt boathouse are all walkable. Most central streets are closed to cars, but bicycles are everywhere — don't walk in cycle lanes and look right when crossing.

Pay on Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach buses with a contactless card or phone. Until the end of 2026 a single bus fare in England is capped at £3; an Oxford CityZone day ticket costs £4.50 and the all-operator SmartZone £5. The S3 bus from Gloucester Green goes to Blenheim Palace.

Public transport to the Cotswold villages is sparse: the easiest is a day tour from Oxford (from £89) or a hire car. Traffic drives on the left and village lanes are narrow; parking in central Oxford is scarce — use the Park & Ride.

The currency is the British pound (GBP). Almost everywhere in Oxford — the market, pubs, punt hire, buses — takes contactless, and some cafés take no cash at all. Withdraw small amounts from bank ATMs; avoid high-fee ATMs and airport exchange counters.

Tip: When paying, choose to be charged in GBP — decline conversion into your home currency.

Restaurants often add a service charge to the bill already — check it and don't tip twice. Tipping in pubs and cafés is optional. Britain ended tax-free shopping (VAT refunds) for tourists in 2021, so shops give no tax refund.

Pub food: fish and chips, pies, the Sunday roast. In the Cotswolds, a traditional cream tea — scones with clotted cream and jam. Sitting in an ancient pub such as the Turf Tavern or The Bear is an experience in itself.

Tip: In a pub you order and pay at the bar; no one comes to the table.

Covered Market stalls and cafés (Ben's Cookies) and the 'meal deal' (sandwich + drink + snack) from Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S are the cheapest lunch. Cowley Road has cheap restaurants from all over the world.

Tap water is drinkable — ask for 'tap water' in a restaurant and it comes free. In summer packing a picnic for Christ Church Meadow or University Parks is normal; most chain restaurants have kids' menus.

Police, ambulance, fire — 999 or 112, free, 24 hours. For medical problems that are not life-threatening, NHS 111. To report a theft or reach the police (Thames Valley Police) in a non-emergency — 101. The main A&E is the John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington. If you lose your passport, contact the Embassy of Mongolia in London.

Oxford is calm, but watch bags and phones in the centre, at Gloucester Green and on student party nights. The bigger risk is fast cyclists: don't walk in cycle lanes and always lock a hired bike. Ask for life jackets for children when punting, and take care not to fall in.

The UK terrorism threat level has been SEVERE since 30 April 2026 — an attack is highly likely. Stay alert in crowds and report unattended bags to staff. Traffic drives on the left: follow the 'LOOK RIGHT' painted on the road when crossing.

The British are strict about queueing — always queue for buses, counters and tills. Saying 'please', 'thank you' and 'sorry' constantly is ordinary politeness. Avoid talking loudly or standing too close to people.

Colleges are students' homes and workplaces: enter only during opening hours, with a ticket or the porter's permission, and stay off lawns marked 'Keep off the grass'. During exams (late May–June) many colleges close to visitors; if you see 'Quiet please — exams' signs, keep your voice down.

College chapel Evensong is free and open to all — sit quietly, switch off your phone and take no photos during the service. On 1 May thousands gather for 'May Morning' singing from Magdalen Tower — arrive early.

The Oxford Bus app — tickets and live bus locations. Google Maps and Citymapper for walking and bus routes; Trainline for train times and tickets (cheaper in advance).

Book Christ Church, Bodleian tours and Blenheim on their official sites — they sell out in summer and are cheaper online. Experience Oxfordshire lists events and college opening times.

NHS 111 online — enter your symptoms and learn where to go. Uber shows the price upfront; city taxis wait at the station and ranks around the centre.

The Airline coach leaves Gloucester Green every 20 minutes by day and takes ~80–90 minutes to Heathrow — allow extra time for traffic. Be at the airport 3 hours before an international flight; Heathrow has 4 terminals, so check which is on your ticket.

Tip: With luggage, a pre-booked fixed-date return guarantees your seat.

Heathrow uses new security scanners, but liquid rules for hand luggage can differ by terminal — packing to the 100 ml rule is the safe choice. Connecting back via Istanbul, Frankfurt or Seoul on one ticket, your bags go straight through to Ulaanbaatar.