Should I Buy a House With a South Facing Garden?
A south-facing garden gets sun for most of the day, year round, and it is the orientation buyers ask for most. That demand is why it carries a premium — and why it is worth checking you are getting what you are paying for.
The real difference is not the summer hours, where west-facing runs it close. It is winter: south-facing is the only aspect that keeps meaningful direct sun through December. The trade-offs are worth knowing too — it can be uncomfortably hot in July, planting scorches, and the front of the house faces north.
At a glance
- Direction
- Faces south
- Garden sun
- Most of the day
- Best for
- Light, growing, solar panels
- Resale
- Usually the most desirable
🌤️ How much sun will the garden get?
A south-facing garden in London gets 9h 19m of direct sun at midsummer and 7h 36m at midwinter — sun through the middle of the day, and the most of any orientation overall.
| Time of year | Sun in the garden | Hours | Sun height at noon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midsummer21 June | 08:23 – 17:41BST | 9h 19m | 62° |
| Spring / autumn21 Sept | 06:54 – 18:51BST | 11h 58m | 38° |
| Midwinter21 Dec | 08:12 – 15:47GMT | 7h 36m | 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 south facing garden receives sunlight for most of the day, making it the most desirable orientation for many UK buyers.
- It's excellent for growing plants, drying washing, entertaining, and getting the most from solar panels.
- Because demand is high, a south facing garden can support resale value, though homes with them often cost more to buy in the first place.
- The main trade-offs are potential overheating in summer and the need for shade, so it isn't automatically right for everyone.
Should I Buy a House With a South Facing Garden?
A south facing garden is widely considered the best orientation in the UK because it enjoys sunlight throughout the day. If you value light, gardening, outdoor living, or solar power, it is an excellent choice, provided you're happy to manage summer heat.
Because the sun sits in the southern part of the sky over the course of the day, a south facing garden catches light from morning right through to evening. That consistent exposure is what sets it apart from east, west, or north facing gardens.
The direction your garden faces is a genuinely important factor when buying a house, and south facing is the one most buyers put at the top of their wish list.
What Is a South Facing Garden?
A south facing garden is simply one where the rear of the property, and therefore the garden, points towards the south. You can check this easily using a compass or a compass app on your phone: stand with your back to the rear wall of the house and look down the garden.
If the compass points roughly south, you have a south facing garden.
Alternatively, you can look the address up on a mapping tool and use the satellite or street view to work out which way the garden faces before you even arrange a viewing.
Why Is a South Facing Garden So Prized?
There are several practical reasons a south facing garden is the one buyers chase.
All-day sunlight
The biggest draw is light. A south facing garden gets sun for most of the day, keeping the space bright and warm and flooding the rooms at the back of the house with natural light.
That can make interiors feel more open and welcoming, and reduce the need for lighting during the day.
Ideal for growing
If you enjoy gardening, south facing is close to ideal. The generous, sustained sunlight suits a wide range of flowers, fruit, and vegetables that need plenty of sun to thrive, giving you the best chance of a productive, colourful garden.
Better for solar panels
Sun-facing roofs make the most of solar panels, and a south facing plot often means a south facing roof too. That orientation typically generates the most energy over the day, which can help with running costs and is well worth factoring in if you are thinking about how to future-proof your home.
Great for outdoor living and drying washing
From long lunches to evening gatherings, a bright garden is simply more usable. The steady sun also makes quick work of drying laundry outdoors, a small but genuinely useful everyday benefit.
Supportive of resale value
Because so many buyers actively seek out south facing gardens, they can help a home stand out and hold its value. When it comes time to sell, that desirability works in your favour.
The Trade-Offs of a South Facing Garden
No orientation is perfect, and it is worth going in with your eyes open.
Summer heat and glare
The same all-day sun that makes a south facing garden so appealing can make it uncomfortably hot at the height of summer. Rooms at the back of the house may heat up, and you may want blinds, awnings, or planting to create shade.
Higher purchase price
Desirability comes at a cost. Homes with south facing gardens often carry a premium over otherwise similar properties, so you may pay more upfront to secure one.
Not everyone wants full sun
If you prefer a cooler, shadier retreat, or you want strong sun concentrated at a particular time of day, another orientation may actually suit you better. Some buyers prefer the softer profile of an east facing garden for its bright mornings, or a west facing garden for late-afternoon and evening sun.
Frequently asked questions
Why are south-facing gardens so sought after?
They get direct sun for most of the day throughout the year. The real advantage is winter: a south-facing garden keeps meaningful sun in December when east, west and north-facing plots have very little or none. That consistency is what buyers pay for.
How much sun does a south-facing garden get?
Roughly nine hours at midsummer in London and, more tellingly, around seven and a half at midwinter — several times what any other orientation manages in December.
How much more does a south-facing garden cost?
It commands a premium, though the size varies by area and by how much of the price is driven by other factors. Worth asking whether the premium is buying you sun or just the label — a south-facing garden overshadowed by a tall building next door is not worth paying extra for.
Are there downsides to a south-facing garden?
Yes. It can be uncomfortably hot in high summer, delicate planting scorches and needs more watering, and the front of the house faces north so front rooms are darker. Some buyers actively prefer west-facing for the evening sun.
Is a south-facing garden good for solar panels?
The garden orientation tells you the roof orientation — a south-facing garden means a south-facing rear roof, which is the best aspect for solar generation in the UK. A genuine bonus, and one that is often overlooked.
Is south facing better than west or east facing?
For all-day sun, yes, south facing usually wins. But east facing gardens offer brighter mornings and west facing gardens offer warm evenings, so the "best" direction ultimately depends on how and when you like to use your garden.
How do I check which way a garden faces?
Stand with your back to the rear of the house and look down the garden using a compass or phone compass app. If it points roughly south, it's a south facing garden. Online maps with satellite view are a handy way to check before viewing.
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.
