The Glass House by the Lake | Luxury Cotswolds Villa at The Lakes by Yoo
4Bedrooms
8Guests
5.5Bathrooms
90'From London
3Lake Views

Beyond Bookings

Available for private hire  ·  brand activations, editorial, productions

Enquire about private hire →

As featured in

The Glass House by the Lake - exterior view, Cotswolds luxury villa designed by Mecanoo

The Vision

Designed
from the
Inside Out

"To create a house that combines transparency with sustainability, forging a strong relationship between the villa and the landscape." - Mecanoo, Architects

The Glass House was designed by Mecanoo - the Dutch practice whose UK work includes the Library of Birmingham (RIBA National Award; 2014 Stirling Prize shortlist) and Delft train station in the Netherlands. It stands as a rare example of Mecanoo residential architecture in the UK, available as an architectural holiday rental in the Cotswolds. Its Shou Sugi Ban timber exterior (an ancient Japanese fire-hardening technique, requiring no chemical preservatives) wraps floor-to-ceiling triple glazing. The house dissolves into its lake.

Inside: a staircase carved from a single 500-year-old Slovenian tree. Negro Marquina and Carrara marble throughout. Poliform and Cassina furniture, Cab leather chairs, lighting by Bocci, Tom Dixon, Davide Groppi and Philippe Starck. A home that is at once an architectural landmark and a private sanctuary.

ArchitectMecanoo, Netherlands
SettingHuntsman Lake, Cotswolds
ExteriorShou Sugi Ban Timber
InteriorsNegro Marquina & Carrara Marble
FurnishingsPoliform · Cassina · Bocci · Tom Dixon
TechnologyDaikin · Sonos · Home Automation
Glass House dining area and carved Slovenian staircase 01

Interiors

Poliform and Camerich furniture. Iconic Cassina Cab leather chairs. Sculptural lighting by Bocci, Tom Dixon, Davide Groppi and Philippe Starck. A staircase carved from a single 500-year-old Slovenian tree. Negro Marquina and Carrara marble throughout. Contemporary artwork placed throughout every room.

The Glass House illuminated at night - home automation and smart lighting 02

Technology

Full home automation. Daikin climate control. Underfloor heating on all floors. Air recovery system with heat exchange. Sonos multi-room audio with ceiling speakers. Professional Gaggenau appliances, tandoori oven, pizza oven, wine fridge stocked on request.

The Glass House exterior - Shou Sugi Ban timber and triple-glazed glass set within natural lakeside habitat 03

Sustainability

Air thermal heat pump. Solar panels. Triple-glazed glass throughout. Shou Sugi Ban timber with zero chemical preservatives. Heat recovery ventilation. Low energy consumption by architectural design. Considered in its materials, measured in its footprint.

★ Featured on Screen

World's Most Secret Homes
Series 1, Episode 5

The Glass House was the subject of a full 44-minute documentary episode - one of the most remarkable homes ever featured on the series. Includes an architect interview with Mecanoo and a complete interior tour.

Watch the Episode

Also featured in BBC One's Showtrial - 5-day drama production shoot

"The phrase 'room with a view' doesn't do it justice. It's so much more than what you can appreciate through the confines of a window - it's more like an ever-changing canvas, or film set." - Luxury London

The Essence

Every Room
a Revelation

Six distinct spaces. One unbroken experience of glass, water, and light.

9-seat private cinema - The Glass House Cotswolds luxury villa
01

Private Cinema

Nine seats. Professional projection. A bar built into the basement beneath the lake line. Film nights in complete privacy.

Harvia sauna and hot tub spa - Glass House Cotswolds
02

Harvia Sauna & Spa

A subterranean sanctuary. Harvia sauna, hot tub, and full spa - set into the basement, where the world falls silent.

Roof terrace with panoramic view of three lakes - Glass House Cotswolds
03

Roof Terrace

A planted garden above the glass. A sweeping panorama of three lakes. Sunsets that colour the sky amber and rose from the highest point.

Professional Varenna Gaggenau kitchen - Glass House Cotswolds luxury rental
04

Gourmet Kitchen

Varenna craftsmanship. Gaggenau appliances. Tandoori and pizza ovens. Marble countertops. Wine fridge stocked to your specification on arrival.

Games room with full-size snooker table - Glass House Cotswolds
05

Games Room

Full-size snooker table. Bar area. A basement world designed for unhurried evenings - where time slows and conversation runs deep.

Zipline across the lake - Glass House Cotswolds estate activities
06

The Lake & Estate

Private boat hire. Zip-line across the water. Wild swimming. Cotswolds AONB ten minutes away. Michelin-starred restaurants within reach.

The Rhythm of Days

Three Days.
Three Worlds.

Morning light streaming through the Glass House - lake reflections at dawn

I

Morning Ritual

Wake to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling glass. The lake reflecting golden hues. Step onto the private terrace with freshly brewed coffee and watch the morning mist lift from still water.

II

Days of Discovery

Bourton-on-the-Water. Bibury. Stow-on-the-Wold. Cirencester in twenty minutes. Blenheim Palace within the hour. Return to your private lake - take the boat out, wild swim, or simply be still.

Paddleboarding on Huntsman Lake - Cotswolds daytime activities
Glass House interior at evening - warm lighting and lake views

III

Evening Elegance

The house glows from within. Underfloor heat. The feature fireplace lit. The lake a perfect mirror of a star-studded sky. The cinema below. The sauna steaming. The evening entirely, privately, yours.

In Their Words

What the World
Is Saying

August 2025

"The Cotswolds is now the UK's most sought-after address for the world's most discerning travellers - the best and biggest ultra-modern houses in the Lakes by Yoo estate go for £35,000 a week in peak."
"We don't think it's an over-exaggeration to say that this has to be one of the most remarkable homes in our collection."
Plum Guide Editorial
"It's more like an ever-changing canvas, or film set - Huntsman Lake reflecting a panoramic mirror image of trees and birds in formation, traced against cloud-wisped, peach-pink sunset skies."
Luxury London
"The Glass House is one of the best there to rent. The space is great and super modern - the basement spa with hot tub and sauna are a big plus."
Bruce W. - Verified Airbnb Guest, October 2025
"There's surely not another house in the UK which allows you to appreciate Mother Nature - in all her many-hued and reflected glory - quite like this."
Luxuria Lifestyle

Rates 2026

Reserve
Your Season

Season Per Night Min. Stay
Off-Peak Weekday£1,6502 nights
Off-Peak Weekend£1,7802 nights
Bank & School Holidays£2,0504 nights
Summer Peak£2,2504 nights
Festive (11-23 Dec)£1,850-£2,2503 nights
Christmas & New Year24-31 December · 7-night minimum
£4,050per night

All rates subject to availability. A deposit is required to confirm. Our team responds within 24 hours with a personalised booking proposal.

View Cancellation Policy →

Request private hire details →

Direct Booking

Every stay is individually confirmed and personally managed by Super Prime International. Direct enquiries receive priority handling and direct communication with the team managing the stay.

Host to distinguished international guests - managed with discretion

Direct bookings receive a dedicated booking manager, personalised welcome arrangements, and preferred access to our local supplier network - private chefs, transfers, grocery pre-stocking, and bespoke experience curation.

Enquire for Your Dates →

Reserve Your Stay

Begin Your
Enquiry

Share your dates and party details. Our team will confirm availability and booking terms within 24 hours with a personalised proposal for this Cotswolds villa hire.

Professionally managed by Super Prime International to high hospitality standards throughout the stay.
All enquiries handled with care and discretion. Your privacy is fundamental to how we operate.
Direct bookings receive priority handling, preferential direct rates, and a dedicated booking manager.
Private chef, transfers, grocery pre-stocking and experience curation available on request.
Current Availability

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Available
Booked
On Request
✦

Enquiry Received

Thank you. Our team will be in touch within 24 hours with confirmed availability and a personalised booking proposal.

For urgent enquiries:
+44 7928 392377

Request Availability

We respond within 24 hours

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Your enquiry is handled in complete confidence by Super Prime International. We never share your details with third parties.

The Setting

Cotswolds.
Perfectly
Placed.

Address The Lakes by Yoo Hotel & Residences
High Street, Lechlade
Gloucestershire, GL7 3DTSee map for exact location
By Car 90 minutes from LondonVia M4 and A419 · Private parking for 2+ cars
By Train Swindon Station (GWR from London Paddington)30 minutes by taxi · Private transfers can be arranged
Contact +44 7928 392377[email protected]
Bourton-on-the-Water Bibury Stow-on-the-Wold Cirencester Burford Blenheim Palace Oxford Bath

Often Asked

Frequently
Asked

How much does it cost to stay at The Glass House? +
Rates for this Cotswolds villa hire range from £1,650 per night (off-peak weekday) to £4,050 per night (Christmas & New Year). Minimum stays vary by season from 2 to 7 nights. Full rate breakdown is in the Rates section above.
How many bedrooms does The Glass House have? +
The Glass House is a four-bedroom luxury Cotswolds villa with king and super-king beds, accommodating up to 8 guests, with 4 en-suite bathrooms plus 2 additional WCs.
Is The Glass House a cabin, dome or glamping accommodation? +
No. The Glass House is a private four-bedroom architectural villa designed by Mecanoo, set on a private lake at The Lakes by Yoo near Lechlade in the Cotswolds. It is a floating glass residence - not a cabin, dome or glamping stay.
How far is The Glass House from London? +
Approximately 90 minutes by car from London via the M4 and A419. The nearest train station is Swindon (GWR from London Paddington), approximately 30 minutes by taxi.
What amenities does The Glass House include? +
The property features a 9-seat private cinema, Harvia sauna and hot tub spa, roof terrace with panoramic lake views, professional Gaggenau kitchen, full-size snooker table, Sonos multi-room audio, home automation, and private lake access with boat hire.
Can I book The Glass House for a private event or filming? +
Yes. The house is available for private hire including filming, editorial shoots, brand activations and corporate use, subject to estate approval. Previous productions include BBC One's Showtrial, automotive launches, and fashion editorial shoots. Enquire about private hire →
What is the cancellation policy? +
A deposit is taken within 24 hours of booking: 30% if more than 6 weeks before arrival, 100% if less than 6 weeks. All funds paid are non-refundable. A refundable £3,000 security deposit is required on all bookings, returned within 14 days of departure subject to inspection. Travel insurance is strongly recommended. View full cancellation policy →
Is The Glass House the same as Glass Combe? +
No - these are entirely separate properties. The Glass House by the Lake is the Mecanoo-designed floating villa within The Lakes by Yoo private estate, in operation as a private rental since 2019. It was the subject of a 44-minute BBC One episode of World's Most Secret Homes, won The Plan Award 2019 in the Villa category, and has been featured in Wallpaper, The Times, Marie Claire and Luxury London. Glasscombe is unrelated.

Privacy Policy

The Glass House by the Lake · Managed by Super Prime International · Last updated: March 2026

Who We Are

The Glass House by the Lake is a luxury Cotswolds villa and floating lake house rental at The Lakes by Yoo, professionally managed by Super Prime International (SPI). This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you use this website or make a booking enquiry.

What Data We Collect

When you submit a booking enquiry or event request, we may collect: your full name, email address, telephone number, arrival and departure dates, party size, occasion, special requests, and any additional information you choose to share.

How We Use Your Data

We use your data to: respond to your booking enquiry, prepare a personalised proposal, manage your stay, arrange concierge services, and send you relevant information about future availability if you have opted in.

Who We Share Data With

Your data may be shared with: The Lakes by Yoo estate management (for access and security purposes), third-party concierge providers you request (private chefs, transfers), and our booking management systems. We do not sell your personal data to any third party.

Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil your booking and for a reasonable period afterwards for follow-up communication and legal compliance. You may request deletion at any time - we will erase your data within 30 days.

Your Rights Under UK GDPR

You have the right to: access the personal data we hold about you, request correction of inaccurate data, request deletion of your data, object to or restrict processing, and withdraw consent at any time.

Contact

To exercise any of these rights, email: [email protected] or call +44 7928 392377.

Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics cookies to understand how visitors use the site. We also use essential cookies for the booking calendar functionality. By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies. You may adjust your browser settings to disable cookies.

Cancellation Policy

The Glass House by the Lake · Managed by Super Prime International · Last updated: March 2026

01

Standard Residential Bookings

A deposit is taken within 24 hours of booking confirmation:

  • 30% deposit if more than 6 weeks prior to arrival
  • 100% deposit if less than 6 weeks prior to arrival

All funds paid are non-refundable in the event of cancellation. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

02

Security Deposit

A refundable security deposit of £3,000 is required on all residential bookings.

This is held against any damage or additional costs incurred during your stay and returned within 14 days of departure, subject to inspection of the property.

03

Commercial Event Hire

The Glass House is available for select commercial activations, brand events, and private productions.

Event hire rates and cancellation terms are negotiated individually depending on the scope, duration, and nature of the activation. A bespoke hire agreement is issued for all commercial bookings.

Enquire about event hire →

For all cancellation queries, please contact us directly: [email protected]  ·  +44 7928 392377