London to Dover to Bath via train

HS1 from St Pancras to Dover- booked ahead tickets are normally around £15.

I think it's as long as it's short on the way back whether you get off at St Pancras or Stratford International. Another £15 ticket.

But from Stratford International you could take the DLR one stop to Stratford [domestic] then the Elizabeth Line to Paddington for Oxford, then book a cheap advance ticket from Paddington to Oxford.

The St Pancras route may or may not be a few minutes faster, not by much. It is maybe a bit easier as it is a one seat tube ride St Pancras to Paddington.

Thank you! Does that mean I'd have to go to Oxford to get to Dover??

No, the train to Dover starts from London St Pancras.

I suppose it is worth saying that there are also slower trains from London Victoria to Dover. Those take 2 hours as opposed to 1 hour 10 from St Pancras.

From Victoria you would take the Circle line tube to Paddington.

If buying two advance train specific fares, like Dover to London, then London to Oxford allow 1 hour to cross London. Then if you miss your Oxford connection at Paddington due to a delayed train from Dover you are entitled to take the next Oxford train even on an advance train specific ticket.
The official Minimum Connecting Time is something like 40 minutes, so one hour is a good buffer.

Thank you!

I'm confused about the Oxford references though - do I have to go thru oxford to get to Bath from Dover? Our plan is to spend 4 days in London, then go to Dover and spend a day/night there, then go to Bath and spend several days in the area before renting a car and heading to Wales.

Why can't I read?

Substitute Bath for Oxford above in all cases. Train direct from Paddington to Bath every 30 minutes.

Ooooooooooooohhhhhh! THANK YOU! :)