Should I Buy a House With a North Facing Garden?

A north facing garden has a reputation as the "worst" orientation — but that reputation is exactly why it can be the smart buy. It gets the least direct sun, so it's usually the cheapest of the four aspects, and for a lot of buyers the trade-offs simply don't matter. Before you rule a house in or out on the garden alone, it's worth understanding what a north facing garden actually gives you.

In this insight, we tackle the question: should I buy a house with a north facing garden?

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Key takeaways

• A north facing garden receives the least direct sunlight of any orientation, so the garden stays cooler and more shaded — but the front of the house faces south and gets the sun instead.
• Because they're the least sought-after, homes with a north facing garden are often cheaper, which can mean better value and more room to negotiate on price.
• They suit shade-loving plants, buyers who want a cool garden and sunny front rooms, and anyone who'd rather not have interiors overheating in summer.
• The main trade-offs are less sun for outdoor entertaining, a garden that can stay damp, and slightly slower resale — worth weighing against the lower price.

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Should I buy a house with a north facing garden?

A north facing garden can be a genuinely good buy — especially if you're not a sun-worshipper and you value price over aspect. You typically pay less, the front rooms of the house get the sun, and the garden stays cool and low-glare. The catch is limited direct sunlight in the garden itself, so weigh it against how much you'll actually use the outdoor space.

In the UK the sun tracks across the southern sky, so a garden on the north side of the house sits in the house's shadow for much of the day. In the depths of winter it may get almost no direct sun; in high summer, when the sun rises in the north-east and sets in the north-west, the edges of the garden can catch early-morning and late-evening light.

What is a north facing garden?

A north facing garden is simply one where the garden is on the north side of the property — so when you stand with your back to the house wall and look down the garden, you're facing north. Because the sun never sits in the northern sky in the UK, this is the aspect that gets the least direct sunlight.

To check a garden's direction, stand with your back to the house and use a compass (or the compass app on your phone) pointing down the garden. You can also drop the address into Google Maps and use the satellite or Street View to work out which way the rear of the property faces.

Remember the flip side: if the garden faces north, the front of the house faces south — so your front rooms, driveway and any front garden get the best of the sun.

Pros of a north facing garden

It's usually the cheapest aspect

South facing gardens command a premium, and north facing ones sit at the other end of the scale. That means a home with a north facing garden is often better value for the same size and condition — and there's frequently more room to negotiate on the price. If aspect isn't a dealbreaker for you, that saving is real money in your pocket.

Sunny front of the house

Because the garden faces north, the front of the property faces south. Living rooms, bedrooms or a home office at the front will enjoy bright, sunny conditions for much of the day.

A cooler home in summer

North facing rear rooms don't take the brunt of the afternoon sun, so kitchens and living spaces at the back stay cooler and more comfortable in a heatwave — with less need for fans or air conditioning, and less fading of furniture and flooring.

Great for shade-loving plants

A shaded, cooler garden is ideal for a whole palette of plants that struggle in full sun — ferns, hostas, hydrangeas, camellias and acers all thrive. Gardeners who like a lush, green, woodland feel often prefer it.

Cons of a north facing garden

Limited direct sunlight in the garden

The big one: the garden gets far less direct sun, particularly in winter and around the middle of the day. If you dream of sunbathing, long lunches in the sun or a suntrap patio, this aspect will frustrate you.

Can stay damp

Less sun means the garden dries out more slowly after rain, so lawns, patios and decking can hold damp and grow moss or algae. Washing on the line takes longer to dry, too.

Slightly harder to sell

Because many buyers prize a sunny garden, a north facing one can take a little longer to sell and may not rise in value quite as fast. That matters less if you buy well in the first place — see how your home's value compares before you offer.

How to make the most of a north facing garden

You can do a lot to lift a north facing garden: use light-coloured paving and mirrors to bounce light around, position a seating area at the sunnier far end that catches evening light in summer, choose shade-tolerant planting, and add a pergola or lighting to make it an evening space rather than a midday one.

The best direction for a garden to face

South facing gardens are the most sought-after because they get sun for most of the day, followed by west (afternoon and evening sun) and east (morning sun). North comes last for sunlight — but "best" really depends on you. If you want value, cool interiors and sunny front rooms more than a suntrap out back, north facing can be the sensible, money-savvy choice. Aspect is just one factor when buying a house; size, condition, location and price all matter more to most buyers.

Frequently asked questions

Is a north facing garden really that bad?

No. It gets the least direct sun, which is a genuine downside if you love a sunny garden — but it also means a cooler home, sunny front rooms and a lower price. For plenty of buyers the trade-off is well worth it.

Does a north facing garden lower the value of a house?

It can make a home slightly cheaper to buy and a little slower to sell than an equivalent south facing one. That's a negotiating advantage when you buy, as long as you go in at a sensible price.

Does a north facing garden get any sun at all?

Yes — in summer, when the sun rises in the north-east and sets in the north-west, the garden catches some early-morning and late-evening sun, and the far end furthest from the house gets the most. In winter it may get very little.

Which plants are best for a north facing garden?

Shade-loving plants such as ferns, hostas, hydrangeas, camellias, acers and many woodland-style perennials do well in the cooler, shaded conditions.

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General information only, not financial advice. Garden aspect is one of many factors when buying — always weigh it against price, condition and location.