Should I Buy a House With a North Facing Garden?
A north-facing garden gets the least direct sun of any orientation — and in midwinter, across most of the UK, it gets none at all. That is the honest starting point, and it is why these houses are usually the cheapest of the four aspects.
What the reputation misses is that in midsummer a north-facing garden does get sun, just at the ends of the day rather than the middle: early, while the sun is still in the north-east, then again in the evening from the north-west. For plenty of buyers that is a price worth paying for the same house in a better street.
At a glance
- Direction
- Faces north
- Garden sun
- Limited, mostly summer edges
- Best for
- Cool gardens, shade plants, value
- Value note
- Usually the cheapest aspect
🌤️ How much sun will the garden get?
A north-facing garden in London gets 7h 6m of direct sun at midsummer and no direct sun at midwinter — the least direct sun of any orientation, mostly early morning and late evening in summer only.
| Time of year | Sun in the garden | Hours | Sun height at noon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midsummer21 June | 04:50 – 08:22then 17:42 – 21:14BST | 7h 6m | 62° |
| Spring / autumn21 Sept | No direct sun | — | 38° |
| Midwinter21 Dec | No direct sun | — | 15° |
Sun height matters as much as hours. At 15° in midwinter the sun barely clears a two-storey house, so a garden that is bright in July can sit in full shade from November to February. In midsummer it reaches 62°, clearing almost anything.
Calculated from solar declination and the equation of time for London (51.51°N), checked against published sunrise and sunset times. Clock times include British Summer Time where it applies. This is the astronomical maximum: it assumes a clear horizon, so neighbouring houses, fences, walls and trees will trim the start and end of each window, and can remove winter sun altogether. Treat it as the best case the plot can offer, then look at what is actually around it.
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.
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?
It is the least sunny orientation, and in midwinter most north-facing gardens in the UK get no direct sun at all. In midsummer they do get sun, but at the ends of the day rather than through the middle. Whether that matters depends on how much you would use the garden between November and February.
How much sun does a north-facing garden get?
In London, roughly seven hours at midsummer — split between early morning and evening with a shaded middle — and none at midwinter. Further north the winter position is the same and the summer split is more pronounced.
Are north-facing gardens cheaper?
Generally yes, and that is the main argument for one. The same house with a north-facing garden usually costs less than its south-facing equivalent, which can be the difference between an area you want and one you settle for.
Does a north-facing garden get any sun in winter?
In most of the UK, none. The sun sits too low — around 15 degrees above the horizon at noon in London in December — so it never clears the house. The garden stays in shade from roughly November to February.
What are the advantages of a north-facing garden?
A cooler space in high summer, no scorching or fading, less watering, and shade planting that thrives. The front of the house faces south, so the front rooms are the bright ones. And the property usually costs less than the equivalent south-facing one.
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.
General information only, not financial advice. Garden aspect is one of many factors when buying — always weigh it against price, condition and location.
Sun hours are calculated from solar position for the city you select and assume a clear horizon — neighbouring buildings, fences and trees will reduce them, and can remove winter sun altogether. General information, not financial advice.
