The must-see attractions in Prague

Petrin Hill

I'm a sucker for a good view point and had read Petrin Hill offered the best view in the city. Take the funicular to the top like we did or have a leisurely stroll. Keep in mind - it's pretty steep! Once you get to the top make sure you pay a trip to the observation tower. Modelled on the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, it was built in 1861. You'll have to suffer 299 steps before you reach the top but the view is absolutely stunning. Miles and miles of pretty terracotta roofs and every recognisable landmark will be in your sights. Make sure you have a wander around once you make your way down - it's a great place to bring a picnic.

City art

One of my favourite things to do in Prague was to wander around. There so many things on every corner so one of the best things is to just keep an eye out. Head to John Lennon Wall to see some street art. People have left so many messages and it's a really cool place. The giant metal babies are quite famous in the city. They crawl up the TV tower but you'll also find some in Kampa Park. They are meant to represent the communist era, unable to reach adulthood, stifled by totalitarian rule. The Memorial to the Victims of Communism is very moving and worth seeking out. Located on the edge of Petrin Hill, it was unveiled 12 years after the fall of communism.

Charles Bridge
My best tip would be to cross the Charles Bridge early in the morning so that you beat the huge crowds. Crossing the Vltava River, construction of the bridge was started in 1357 and was finished in the beginning of the 15th Century. Decorated with numerous black statues on either side, most of them in Baroque-style. It's also lovely to cross when the sun sets to see the city sparkling in the darkness.

Old Town
Again the old town is full of tourists so it's best to start your exploring as early as possible. The early bird catches the world. Its here that the atmospheric clock lives. This is a little underwhelming but it's worth seeing it as it's such a famous part of the city. It chimes on the hour and people start crowding round about 15 minutes before. The old town square is such a hub of activity and a great place to people watch.

Castle district
The castle district consists of Prague Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Golden Lane and St George's Basilica. We paid to get in and see all these buildings but if I'm perfectly honest, I'm not sure it was worth the dosh. It's much nicer to just wander around the outside of the complex. As a Brit, I think we're pretty spoilt with castles in this country and Prague just didn't live up to the expectations. But definitely trek up to the hill and marvel at the architecture.

Pedalos on the River
Due to peer pressure from my friends, we decided to do this on the whim and it was one of my favourite afternoons. We hired a pedalo for an hour and laughed non-stop. It was pretty scary when we got a little too close to the weir but we made it back in one piece. It's a really fun way to spend an hour.

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Entertaining with LSA International

One of my favourite things to do is eat and entertain so when LSA International got in touch and kindly offered to send me a few things from their collection at Amara, my eyes lit up. They're currently celebrating their 50th birthday. Working in interiors I often come across their products and they always seem so classic and of high quality. I certainly wasn't disappointed when they arrived. They definitely helped me become the hostess with the mostess! I decided to host a little wine and cheese night to give them their first outing.

One of the first things needed were some champagne glasses. What is a gathering without some bubbles? Reminding me of The Great Gatsby, the handmade glasses are gorgeous. They're the perfect party centrepiece. With wine you always need some cheese right? Which makes this cheeseboard an essential! This quaint little cheeseboard has a hand-blown dome on an oak paddle base, making it perfect for an intimate dinner party. Finally I was gifted the water and wine carafe set. Once again the glass mouth-blown and nestled on a wooden base.  It's the little finishing touches like these pieces that really make a gathering. I adore glassware at the moment, it just seems so timeless which is what you really want when you buy investment pieces. The collection isn't cheap but you really do get what you pay for. I don't mind splashing out on pieces that I know are going to stand the test of time.

Thanks so much to LSA International for helping me put my hostess skills to the test. They got the thumbs up!

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Join in with the Great British Bake Off

GBBO seems to have gripped the nation again and taken over my Wednesday night. Again. It's given me the baking bug and I've been back in the kitchen after a bit of time away. Whenever I put aside the time to rustle something up, I always wish I make more of an effort. I love looking on the internet and seeing what type of recipes are out there. As well as my 50+ cookbooks... But sometimes I just go back to some of my favourites.

The Apple cider cake above is always a crowd pleaser. It has a great sweet taste and the added cider makes it so light and fluffy which is what you're always looking out for in a cake. If you fancy something a little bit more fruity then this coconut and lime loaf will be a winner. Taken from one of my favourite cookbook author Levi Roots,  the extra lime glaze helps to give it a bit more of a zing - which is always a good thing!

Not all baking treats are for those who have a sweet tooth. These savoury breakfast bars are great to make on a sunday and have throughout the week - much healthier than grabbing a bacon butty at the train station. They're substantial and really filling so won't make you reach for the biscuit barrel before lunchtime.

Finally if you want to make a showstopper then this ultimate chocolate cake is the one to attempt. The lashings of white and chocolate milk buttons paired with creamy milk chocolate fingers, makes it a chocoholic's dream. Set aside a good few hours over a lazy weekend for this one as it's no mean feat. But when the outcome is the below, you really don't mind putting the hard graft in!

Let me know some of your favourite bakes to make as I'm always on the look out for some new ideas! And some new blogs to drool over! If you run out of time to make your own creations, head to the Biscuiteer's discount page to to enter a completion - it ends on 23rd September.

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