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If you're going to do this, you could put the cash away in fixed term savings so it's out of reach anyway? You can get 4-5% or so at the moment although depending on earnings and total interest, tax may eat away at that significantly if it's not an ISA.
If you are fortunate enough to pay tax, then there's also the option of additional pension contributions, which are basically pre-tax investments. Your employer may well match them too, up to a limit.
Given your luxurious situation you might want to just get proper financial advice?
rhowe-
We did get financial advice earlier, and the advisor has been really helpful. In a way we feel a bit bad because we've had a number of conversations with him after which the best course of action always seems to be something that ends with him not getting paid (his fees come from new mortgage or savings products, and so far neither of these has been the best option).
tbc
I think if we had a few years to run on our current deal I'd be a bit happier with the mortgage route.
Also regarding getting used to the mortgage - I think we'd be training ourselves by putting aside a mortgage-like amount every month to pay for current and future works, so I don't think we'd get cash-happy. But we also have to adjust a bit to lower salaries and different costs.