No one wanted to buy this historic house on a private island. An Airbnb guest who paid $1,700 to stay there can see why.

• A home on an island with links to the Magna Carta was taken off the market after failing to find a buyer.

• The River Thames island has a house that's available on Airbnb for more than $1,000 a night.

• Its owner couldn't find a buyer for the house and guests who have stayed there can see why.

A rustic home on a UK private island with ties to British history that was priced at £4.5 million (about $5.6 million) was taken off the market after struggling to find a buyer.

Nestled on the banks of the River Thames in the village of Wraysbury, roughly an hour's drive from London, Magna Carta Island is named for the 800-year-old charter signed by King John that crystallized the idea that British monarchs and the government were not above the law.

The Magna Carta, which influenced the Bill of Rights in the US, is said to have been sealed on a stone slab that is now kept in a special room within the six-bedroom, three-bathroom house on the 3.73-acre private island.

Listing agent Soren Ravaux of Waterview was running the sale before the house was withdrawn from sale last year. He told Business Insider the owner is a Chinese businessman who bought the property for its "heritage" in 2013 for about £3 million.

Ravaux said the owner never used the private island as a permanent residence, instead letting it as an Airbnb to cover the running costs.

Per the Airbnb listing, bookings start from about $1,449 a night, and the property can accommodate up to 15 guests. The owner did not respond to requests for comment.

As grand as the home appears when you drive over the small bridge and catch a glimpse of it surrounded by lush greenery, Ravaux said it's "what you might call rustic" and in need of repair.

So does a guest who stayed there in the past — take a look.

The two-story house was built in 1834 and is dotted with quirky features.

From the stained-glass windows to the open fireplace, circular chimneys, and wooden beam ceilings, the 4,708-square-foot house is oozing with history.

It's Grade II-listed, meaning it's legally protected in the UK for its historical significance, but the house can and should be partially renovated, Ravaux said.

"While you have a lot of the original woodwork and original features, you've probably got to rewire the whole place," he said. "The bathrooms probably haven't been touched since the late 1980s."

An Airbnb guest who hosted a 30th birthday party there says the house is beautiful but somewhat neglected.

Shay Khan, 31, told BI he booked a one-stay night at the Magna Carta house in November 2023 to celebrate his 30th with friends and family.

The night's theme was a murder mystery, so Khan said the building's "gothic" style and "old architecture" were well-suited.

He said the state of the interior was disappointing. "Some rooms were absolutely fine, but some of them had massive black stains on the carpets in the bedrooms, and the quality of the infrastructure of the beds wasn't that great."

Khan said the Airbnb cost £1,400 ($1,766) and had separate cleaning and service fees, which he said he was "slightly disheartened" to pay.

"Perhaps it was overpriced for the experience that we got," he said.

His experience was echoed by a colleague of his partner, who he said had booked the venue a few months prior.

"They had some great memories as well," but also faulted the "cleanliness and general upkeep," Khan said.

The main house has a banquet-style dining room, and there's a guest cottage — but it needs repairs.

According to Ravaux, the two-bedroom guest house also needs renovation after a falling tree damaged it a few years back.

Khan said he noticed it when he arrived on the property for his birthday. The roof was caved into the point where he didn't know what the purpose of the building was as he said it wasn't mentioned in the Airbnb listing.

On the bright side, the dilapidated structure "went with the theme of the murder mystery," Khan said.

The Magna Carta House has ties to modern royal history.

"When Queen Elizabeth was alive, she was doing a national tour of the country, and she planted a commemorative tree on the grounds," Ravaux said.

The island is a rare piece of real estate but may need a revamp to be worth the asking price.

Ravoux's agency deals with several private island sales in the area, but he said Magna Carta Island is unique as "very few of them have just one house."

History is one of its major draws and Ravoux can see it becoming a boutique hotel.

"Even if you take the heritage out, it's just a beautiful old building on this entire private island surrounded by water with these incredible views," he said.

But to be worth the price tag it had before being pulled from the market, Khan said it would benefit from some TLC.

"It's a beautiful venue, just slightly neglected," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider