Is it just the prospect it may rain (someone should tell them it can rain on the Med side too)? It's true though that you don't get the 40C more common in southern Spain. Or is it because there are no British resorts there, and there is more of a need to speak Spanish?
Following clip is just from one province, Santander in Cantabria, but there are lots of different beautiful places to explore on the north coast.

Its green for a reason. rain and thats what most of us wish to avoid. Also winter temperatures are none to clever.

Great place to visit for a holiday thogh.

Yeah, the climate is far too similar to the UK, and who wants that?

Again for me its the weather, I do travel to and from Santander and find a lot of the route really lovely, but my only reason for spending time in Spain is the better weather, so its the south for me !

Yep, it's lovely but too green, that means wet

Yep - rain. Lots of it.

I like Northern Spain a great deal. Historically, it is much more culturally diverse than Southern Spain. Different languages, different heritage, varied landscape. Traditions vary from province to province - food, music, crafts etc. The coastline is full of drama and incredibly beautiful and varied.

I know many Brits who have chosen to settle all over Northern Spain. Generally, they weren't looking for the sun, sea, swimming pool and all year round mild climate that settlers in the South searched for. Each to their own.

But, F*** it can get cold in winter! Pamplona, Burgos and Leon endure relatively long winters with big snow and biting, icey winds up until May. There may be occasional warm, sunny days before, but the risk remains well after April.

Galicia, in parts is exceptionally wet. It is said Granada in Andalucia gets just 30 rainy days a year, you're lucky to get 30 dry days in Santiago de Compostela.

The other 'gripe' I have with 'The North' is that west of Santander it is incredibly conservative in a negative way. Too monocultural in a modern context. Rich in historical diversity, but today it's all to Catholic and native Spanish.

North = good for a visit in July and August to escape the heat of the South. Oh, and the north has all the jobs and the money!

I'm currently in Northern Catalunya. The climate seems to be a nice compromise. Not sure I'll be staying long mind.

Yes it does rain in the North - but this year I would say it has been an exceptionally dry and mild winter. I find it very male orientated with the men drinking coffee and the women digging the vegetable patch. I get stared at if I am driving the car and the OH is in the passenger seat, and when he hangs the washing out he often gets an audience.

So are you learning how to handle women then?

I was in Asturias for a while and I can say that I didn´t particularly enjoyed it.

I didn´t like alot of the people there..very closed minded and smiling was rare.

The place was pretty as a picture but lacked any energy.

Nice for those who love hiking, or sipping cider and chatting..not much else. Most have no interest in the outside world.

This is obviously my opinion of my time there...very hard for outsiders.

I don´t think it is avoided though...as many foreigners do not go there, but there are far nicer and exciting (and warmer) places in Spain to go to.

I wouldn´t go back for a big clock!

Why do Brits avoid northern Spain?

I give up tell me. I live so I don't avoid it.

Lovely area, right through Cantabria, Asturias and Galicia, each one a little different, but all beautiful and very interesting culture-wise.
Found the ppl.very friendly also, once I was far enough West to be clear of the Basques.
Usually visit in late Spring or early Summer to see it at it's best.

For me it's the weather, I had quite enough of the cold the rain and the snow when I lived in the north of England.
I would like to visit some day for a holiday as it looks lovely, but life for me is in the much warmer south.

As my OH is Asturian and I have spent months and months there, I cannot disagree more with what you are saying.

Asturias is beautiful and the people of Gijon and Oviedo (the places I know the best) are friendly and charming. Oviedo regular wins the best kept city in Europe award and it is renowned for being a culturally important and beautiful city across the world.

There is a bit of a contrast in the North of Spain between the posh and working class areas. The posh areas are very posh (and some may say conservative) and the working class areas of very much so as well, especially in the old mining areas.

As for there being "No career progression" or options for children growing up there, it simply isnt true. My OH's siblings and school friends have got excellent qualifications and great jobs. The thing is a lot of them had to move out of Asturias to get them as the best jobs there are in the civil service or the old professions, but they got their education and university degree in Oviedo.

Asturias is far too wet for Brits though as are places like San Sebastian which is the most beautiful and vibrant (and posh) city I have ever been to.

Some more videos, This time of "our part" of Northern Spain