4 days in SW England - recommendation's

Is this your first time driving in the UK ? Do you need to be at the airport on Sat morning?
Have you been to Hever Castle & Gardens?

I think you’re being a bit ambitious because you only have 3 full days. I’d focus on either the Cotswolds or Somerset and Dorset. Personally I’d avoid the Cotswolds and focus on Somerset and Dorset. You will only scratch the surface in 3 days even halving your itinerary.

Upon arrival, you will be tired, sleepy, and jet lagged. Are you sure you want to drive in that condition on the left side of the road and on unfamilar ground? Some are not bothered by those things, but for others it might be an accident waiting to happen. Perhaps take a train to your first destination, and rent a car on Wed. Just something to consider.

CanAm - first time driving in UK but I'm pretty confident I can handle it. We have a noon flight out of LGW. I'll look at Hever

I don't doubt that you'll be able to handle the driving. However, you may find the driving times are a little longer than estimates as you get your initial bearings and, as TC mentioned, get used to unfamiliar ground after a flight across the pond. You may want to stay relatively close to the aiport the night before.

I asked about Hever Castle because it's high on a future trip list for us, and it's very close to Gatwick. You may find many historic properties and gardens much closer so you have plenty of time to relish the properties. I recall that a poster on another thread mentioned Sherbourne as an picturesque place to use as a hub. (It stood out to me as my husband may have ancestors from this village.). Historic House and RHS garden:
https://www.sherbornecastle.com/

If the Costwolds are a must see this trip, you might want to find more properties in that general area than trying to cover too much ground (and do justice to the properties you do visit). I'm continuing amazed at how much there is to discover within a small area.

Have a great time!!

Helen - just wondering, why you'd avoid the Cotswolds - crowds, Epcot-like? Any recommendation's for towns in Somerset & Dorset? That's why Yeovil seemed to me as a central location...

CanAmCherie & TC - I agree that the first day will be a challenge on multiple fronts, so maybe closer to LGW would make more sense. Any recommendation's, say an hour west? (CanAm - I used to live in SW DC in the 70's - 4th&G, baby)

Any recommendation's, say an hour west?

You might consider Bath which is almost to Somerset and has a great deal to offer on it's own.

From Gatwick (we are not talking Heathrow here) Bath is the exact same drive time as Yeovil- 2 hours 30 minutes.

So, if intent on driving on arrival day, you might as well head for Yeovil. The other benefit of Yeovil is that it is mainly on A roads, where you have to be more alert, rather than Bath which is almost entirely on motorway/freeway.

What you could do is to stay the first night at Amesbury, where you are of course next door to Stonehenge.

It is also around 1 hour closer to Gatwick, albeit mainly on the M3. As you are driving one night stays don't matter that much.

What you could possibly do is to go to Winchester first (also 1:30 from Gatwick) then afterwards another 45 minutes to Amesbury.

I do t think Yeovil is a very interesting place. Nearby Sherborne would have a bit more charm. Frome, Bradford on Avon and Bruton are nice little places to explore in Somerset among many others. Stourhead is a don’t miss NT property.

The Cotswolds are busy yeah. And you can see the sea in Dorset!

For me the Cotswolds are pretty but no prettier than many, many rural areas in the UK and that includes Somerset and Dorset. They attract huge numbers of visitors from North America, probably because Rick recommends them. Other areas are at least as nice whilst not being as busy. And you will certainly see less of your fellow countrymen in Somerset and Dorset.

Helen & John, thank you for your opinions on the Cotswolds - dang those North Americans, following RS recommendations :) ! Sherborne looks like a good central location and Stourhead is on my list! Ocean views - although great and we love a rocky coast drive - aren't a huge priority since we live 500 yd from the Atlantic.

If you aren’t interested in seeing the coast then I would not recommend including Dorset as the coast is the best bit. It sounds like you’re still trying to nail down your priorities.

Ooops! Sorry about suggesting Bath. Thought you were flying into Heathrow.

As I read it you only have 3 full days for sight seeing. I think for this trip I would stick to Sussex/Kent. If you do want to go further afield the Sherborne would be a good call. Plenty of gardens and historic properties nearby. Stourhead in Wiltshire is a great NT option, doable form Sherborne. I wouldn't stay in Yeovil though. It looks well placed on the map but there are much more scenic places to stay. The new Forest might also suit your requirements.