These last two weeks have been busy, to say the least, as I spent several days in the beautiful city of London. As a tourist, I visited some wonderful sights, of which pictures could never do justice. Buckingham Palace was a spectacle unto itself. In addition to examining the palace’s regal structure, I got the chance to experience the changing of the guard ceremony, which was really more like a parade than anything else.

And of course, what trip to London would be complete without taking in the sights of Big Ben and Parliament from the London Eye?

London is a visually stunning capital, but the city offers so much more than just sightseeing. My favorite moments and the most interesting time in London was spent walking through Westminster Abbey. Hearing about the rich history of the Abbey in person and seeing that history painted on the walls and carved into the structure was awe-inspiring, and something I will never forget.

Finally, as a film fanatic, I had to take in a few of London’s…theatrical attractions. I watched four fantastic live stage productions: “Billy Elliot,” “American Buffalo,” “The Elephant Man” and “The Mousetrap”—which holds the record for the longest-running play in the world. None of them failed to deliver as entertaining showcases of talent, ranging from musical comedy to tragedy.

To end the visit, I spent my last day on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London—The Making of Harry Potter. During this tour, I saw countless set pieces, costumes and props used to bring the magic of the Harry Potter books to life on film.

London has so much to offer, and I barely scratched the surface with this visit. Still, the entire journey was a truly memorable experience.