THE GLASS HOUSE AT THE LAKES BY YOO
Lechlade-on-Thames, Cotswolds, Gloucestershire GL7 3GE
Sleeps 8 | 4 Bedrooms | 4 En-Suite Bathrooms + 2 WCs | Designed by Mecanoo
THE EXPERIENCE
There are houses that impress. Then there is The Glass House.
A rare floating glass villa on a private lake. Sitting directly on a private lake within the 850-acre Lakes by Yoo estate in Lechlade-on-Thames, this is one of the most extraordinary holiday homes in England. Designed by award-winning Dutch architects Mecanoo, the 6,047 sq ft retreat does not simply sit beside water - it hovers above it. Every principal room is framed by floor-to-ceiling glass walls up to 7cm thick, so the lake, the sky, and the seasons are your constant, ever-changing backdrop.
You enter over a bridge. Swans drift past your windows. The bass notes of silence replace the city. Within minutes, everything else falls away.
Property website: glasshousecotswolds.co.uk
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
The exterior is clad in Shou Sugi Ban (yakisugi) - an ancient Japanese technique of charring timber without chemicals, creating a fire-resistant, sustainably preserved finish that ages beautifully with nature. Inside, the palette moves through Negro Marquina and Carrara marble, dark wood, a 500-year-old carved staircase from Slovenia, and signature lighting from Tom Dixon, Bocci, Davide Groppi, and Philippe Starck.
Ceiling heights reach 2.8 to 3.5 metres. The glass-roofed central atrium floods three levels in natural light. Every design decision, from sight lines to materials to the angle of the bridge entrance, was made to deepen your sense of being cocooned in nature.
This is architecture that works for you - not just around you.
ACCOMMODATION
4 bedrooms (1 king, 3 queen) | 4 en-suite bathrooms + 2 WCs | Sleeps 8
Three bedrooms sit on the first floor and one on the ground floor, each with its own en-suite bathroom, rainfall shower, and spa-grade Rituals and Lafco New York toiletries. Open-plan living areas cascade across the ground floor with panoramic lake views from every angle. A glass-roofed staircase connects three levels - lower ground, ground, and first floor - culminating in a roof terrace accessible via an electrically operated skylight.
PRIVATE AMENITIES - IN-HOUSE
Wellness
- Private Harvia sauna and indoor hot tub
- Spa-style bathrooms with walk-in rainfall showers
Entertainment
- 9-seat private cinema room with state-of-the-art AV technology
- Dedicated Play Room with full-size snooker table and fully themed entertainment bar
- Separate Leisure Room
- Sonos multi-room sound system throughout
- 2 Smart TVs with Netflix
- High-speed Wi-Fi
The Kitchen
- Varenna designer kitchen with professional Gaggenau appliances and marble worktops
- Integrated tandoori oven, steam oven, pizza oven, and full domestic suite
- Ideal for private chef events or self-catered entertaining
Comfort & Climate
- Smart home automation throughout
- Daikin air conditioning and MVHR heat-recovery system (year-round)
- Underfloor heating and wood-burning feature fireplaces
Outdoor Living
- Private wrap-around terrace (40 m2) with outdoor furniture and lakeside garden
- Roof terrace of approximately 134 m2 with panoramic Cotswold views
- Private barbecue and wood-fired pizza oven
- EV charger on site
Family & Safety
- Cot, high chair, children's books, toys, and board games
- Smoke and CO detectors, fire extinguisher, first aid kit
- Fully soundproofed
ESTATE AMENITIES AT THE LAKES BY YOO
A 24-hour gated, private estate of 850 acres with six spring-fed lakes. All facilities are open to Glass House guests.
The Spa by YOO (bookable, chargeable)
- 17-metre heated indoor pool with views over Marley Lake
- Sauna, steam room, plunge pool, cryotherapy chamber, and spa garden
- Treatments by Dr. Barbara Sturm, Wildsmith Skin, COSMOSS by Kate Moss, and Moss of the Isles
- Longevity programmes, deep tissue massage, bespoke facials, reflexology
The Lakes Bar & Kitchen
- On-site lakeside restaurant, open for brunch, lunch, and dinner
- Open to guests and the wider community - relaxed, nature-inspired dining
Estate Facilities (included)
- 24-hour security
- Concierge service
- Garden maintenance
- Estate maintenance
- Access to spa and indoor swimming pool
- Tennis courts
Guest Services Team
24hr concierge, housekeeping coordination, itinerary planning, private picnic hampers, mixologists, and flower arrangements on request.
ACTIVITIES (ADD-ONS, CHARGEABLE)
Off-site, bookable via concierge: polo at Cirencester, gliding at Cotswold Gliding Club, clay pigeon shooting, water skiing, hot air balloon rides, golf at Wrag Barn and Burford Golf Club.
GETTING HERE
Glass House, The Lakes by Yoo, 2 Huntsmans Causeway, Lechlade GL7 3GE
Google Maps: search "Glass House by the lake" | Coordinates: 51.735011, -1.659285
Property website: glasshousecotswolds.co.uk
- By car: approximately 90 minutes from central London via M4 and A419
- Nearest mainline station: Swindon (GWR from London Paddington), ~30 minutes by taxi
- Bristol, Bath, and Oxford within an hour's drive
- Private parking for 2+ cars on site
BOOKING & TERMS
- Minimum stay: 3 nights
- Security deposit: £3,000 refundable, returned within 14 days of departure subject to inspection
- Check-in: 16:00-20:00 | Check-out: before 10:00
- Deposit schedule and full cancellation terms: see glasshousecotswolds.co.uk
- Book direct through the property website - no platform fees, preferential direct rates, dedicated booking manager
Direct booking: glasshousecotswolds.co.uk