GOING out late isn’t really a thing in Latvian capital Riga. In fact, most bars shut at 10pm.

But the nightlife is far from what makes this city special, as I learned on a recent visit.

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It’s the fabulously eclectic buildings of the cobbled old town with a mix of stepped gables, pointed spires, pastel-coloured walls and half- timbered facades.

And the unique grub that blends German and Russian influences to create delicious and hearty dishes that leave you yearning for more.

It’s not just me who has fallen in love with this stunning city.

British Airways launched its new winter route from Heathrow to Riga last year and the destination has proved such a hit that flights are being increased to one a week for this season, starting on Monday.

A strategic port town, sitting on the Baltic Sea on Latvia’s west coast, Riga only gained full independence in 1991.

Before that, it was fought over by nearby countries for centuries.

This history has given rise to a wealth of fascinating architecture, from medieval to Gothic, Renaissance and brutalist — something you will notice the minute you start walking around.

The city centre boasts more than 800 art nouveau buildings, dating from the early 20th Century — each as intricately detailed as the last.

Perhaps the most breathtaking examples line Albert Street and Elizabeth Street.

I found myself zig-zagging back and forth across the roads to try to take in every elaborate element, from statues of Atlas holding up his globe, to young women with tumbling locks, and even rudimentary robots.

This is the other great thing about Riga — you can stroll its peaceful streets with ease because, like the rest of Latvia, it has no hills. Little wonder locals jokingly refer to their country as Flatvia.

There is one place in the city that requires a steep climb, though, if you’re up to the challenge. And that’s one of Riga’s most impressive churches, the 13th-century St Peter’s.

At 400ft high, its once-coppery spire, is Riga’s highest point. But as soon I was reassured I could reach the top by elevator, rather than by puffing up hundreds of stairs, I was in — and especially when tickets cost only nine euros.

The panoramic view is absolutely worth the cash (or climb).

Beetroot soup

From there you can see the wide Daugava river which cuts through the city, the shiny golden onion domes of the Nativity of Christ Orthodox cathedral and the elegant columns of the neo-classical National Opera House.

I also spotted modern buildings such as the silver, pyramid-shaped National Library and the 27-storey, cylindrical Saules Akmens office tower.

And if you have a keen eye, you might even see the five U-shaped pavilions that make up the city’s Central Market, a great spot for sampling local food.

Each long, low building in the market is dedicated to a different type of food, from meat to fish or veg, and hearty dishes are the order of the day here.

I was keen to sample as many local delights as possible, including one of the most popular traditional meals — the somewhat unappetising-sounding grey peas with bacon.

It transpires said peas are actually brown, not grey, but don’t let that put you off as this savoury dish certainly carries flavour.

The best places to try local food are the city’s cantines

Laura Millar

And you can see why the warming meal is popular, when temperatures can fall to -20C in winter.

Don’t miss out on karbonade, either, a delicious pork schnitzel, or beetroot-based soup borscht.

The best places to try local food are the city’s cantines — essentially cheap and cheerful canteen-style restaurants — look out for the Lido chain (lido.lv/en).

And it’s worth timing your visit for when the city’s popular and award-winning Christmas markets are in full swing.

They kick off in early December, and you can nibble on enough marzipan, biscuits and roast- ed nuts to keep you full all winter.

One thing is for sure, you will end up leaving Riga, as I did, hungry for more.

Following its grand opening, Eat My Pizza has begun making waves across Leytonstone and East London with its innovative pizza creations.

With its fusion of traditional Italian cuisine and modern East London flair, a carefully curated menu featuring signature pizzas, small plates, and a range of local and Italian beverages the restaurant has managed to impress many and become the top rated restaurant in Leytonstone in the short period between it’s soft launch and grand opening.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANT

Eat My Pizza isn’t just a pizzeria – it’s a neighbourhood spot designed for the local community.

Housed in the historic Barclays Bank building, we’ve transformed this 1900s space into a welcoming eatery where locals can relax and enjoy a laid-back, yet top-quality, dining experience.

Our menu blends authentic Italian dishes with modern, locally inspired twists, offering something for everyone. From beloved classics to our signature pizzas and small plates like veal meatballs and baked artichokes, each dish promises bold flavours and fresh ingredients.

OUR MISSION

Eat My Pizza is the creation of a passionate team with a track record of popular East London restaurants, including FIGO restaurant.

Our mission is to create a welcoming space that combines the rich heritage of Italian cuisine with the innovative and unique flair of Leytonstone.

A place where locals can get together and enjoy a glass of good wine over some of our smaller dishes after work, allowing the space to fit within the customer’s needs – whether this is a three-course meal or a relaxed evening with friends or loved ones.

OUR SPACE

Housed in a beautifully restored 1900s Barclay’s Bank building, Eat My Pizza features:

– Chic ceramic tiled floors

– Stylish red banquettes

– Cozy booths with glimpses of our open kitchen

– An airy dining room with long opening hours from 9 AM to 11 PM

– Ultra-modern bar Juxtaposed against vintage style furnishings and colour palette

WHIZZING along the water holding on for dear life wasn’t exactly what I had in mind for a peaceful cruise to the Norwegian fjords.

We boarded the RIB (rigid inflatable boat) just a hundred metres or so from the MSC Virtuosa, our cruise liner home for the week — kitted out in waterproof overalls and goggles as we soaked up the views of the fishing villages and wildlife surrounding the seaside town of Maloy.

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This is just one of the dozens of excursions MSC Cruises offers on a week-long Norwegian Fjords voyage.

I’m one of 6,000 guests on board the sold-out ship — 330 metres long and 19 decks — with Kelly, my wife, and our daughters Savannah, 13, and Scarlett, ten.

We are first-time “cruisers” and I have to admit I was slightly overwhelmed when I first boarded as there’s just so much to do on and off the enormous ship.

The day trips, expertly organised by the cruise team, offer a hassle-free way to see the highlights of the surrounding areas on one of four port stops.

And they really do make a Norwegian Fjord cruise the experience of a lifetime.

At our first stop, in Haugesund, the breathtaking Langfoss waterfall awaited us, voted one of the top ten most beautiful waterfalls in the world.

I had expected a tranquil trickle of water surrounded by tourists posing for Instagram photos.

But instead we were greeted by a ferocious torrent of water falling from 600 metres above our heads.

For our day-long visit to Flam we jumped on a coach to the Stegastein viewpoint where tourists can walk out on a special gangway suspended some 650 metres above the fjord below.

Our final stop took us to Kristiansand which is on the southern tip of the country.

We hadn’t booked an excursion for this stop so were free to explore solo.

Picking up a map, we headed to the local nature park.

A wrong turn paid off, leading us to most beautiful lake where swimmers were taking advantage of the good weather.

Wide of the mark

Do remember your swimming kit when you leave the boat as there are plenty of beaches and lakes to enjoy a quick dip.

The delight of a cruise holiday is that you are taken to the heart of some beautiful spots — without the hassle of airports, trains and hire cars.

All those preconceptions of cruises being for the retired are wide of the mark.

Our fellow holidaymakers were families and couples of all ages and with so much flexibility this is a perfect solution for a multi-generational holiday.

Our room on our “home from home” the MSC Virtuosa had a double bed, bunk beds for the kids and a balcony offering fresh air and incredible sea views.

Not that we spent much time there as there were five swimming pools, Jacuzzis and a staggering 21 bars to enjoy — five of them serving tipples outside.

If you do want to take full advantage of those bars it’s best to purchase a drinks package before you board as it can work out a lot cheaper.

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For dinner we were assigned to the Il Campo restaurant and to avoid overcrowding, passengers are offered one of three sitting times.

Or you can head to one of the speciality restaurants, including the Butcher’s Cut steakhouse.

Mexican, Vietnamese, tepanyaki and sushi are also on offer.

If you just fancy grabbing food at your convenience, the Marketplace Buffet serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and late-night snacks until 1am.

Evenings are spectacular with passengers encouraged to dress up for theme nights including White Night and Sunshine Night.

Attire is superp-smart for the Gala Night with some passengers even donning tuxedos and cocktail dresses.

Booking is essential for evening entertainment in Le Grand Theatre where we saw stunning singing and dancing with Abba and Michael Jackson tributes standing out.

And special mentions go to stand-up comedian Tucker, who had us in stitches, as well as hypnotist Chris Caress, whose power of persuasion saw several guests lose all their inhibitions.

We may have been first-time cruisers this time round — but we will back for more.

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The Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust are celebrating the prestigious award of Accredited Museum status by Arts Council England, a UK-wide benchmark recognising that the Trust meets the highest standards of management, education, care and access to their historic collections.

To celebrate the new Museum Accreditation status, the Trust is relaunching the Visitor Centre located on the Leigh Woods side of the bridge as the ‘Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum’ and unveiling a new brand.

Open to the public 7 days a week, the museum welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. Inside, visitors can discover objects from the museum collections and learn how the bridge was constructed and is maintained today. Free and ticketed tours run throughout the year, in addition to children’s activities for families and school groups.

The Museum Accreditation application process took approximately three years, during which time the Trust’s Archivist worked to ensure important documents, drawings, photographs and objects were properly catalogued, preserved and made accessible to the public. Many of the items can already be viewed online, with more exciting projects to follow before Christmas.

Bridge Master Trish Johnson said, “We are thrilled to announce Museum Accreditation for our heritage site. This award represents our commitment to preserving the rich heritage of our bridge. Ultimately, we aim to continue sharing captivating stories for present and future generations.”

Museum Archivist Dr Hannah Little added, “We are really pleased to achieve Museum Accreditation. While Clifton Suspension Bridge is familiar to many, our museum and its collections are less well known – these tell us how the bridge was seen, built and used in the past, enabling people to see Bristol’s famous landmark in new and different ways. It is important to preserve and share these objects and stories for the benefit of the public.”

“TRY taking a picture with your phone camera and zoom in,” says our guide as we crowd around a piece of chewing gum stuck on the pavement, squinting to see it better.

Sure enough, when I pinch and stretch the photo on my phone screen, I can make out a kitchen scene, with a tiny kettle and three-point plug.

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By painting on to blobs of trodden gum instead of anything more permanent, artist Ben Wilson keeps within the confines of the law here in Bristol, explains Luke, our guide.

I’m on the Blackbeard to Banksy walking tour, a street-art amble which crams in 1,000 years of history into two hours.

We go from miniature to massive as further along, Bristol’s tallest murals loom down from tower blocks on Nelson Street.

There’s the giant figure of a banker in pin-striped suit and bowler hat, pouring red paint down the side of a tower block and mother and baby, like a modern vision of the Madonna and Child, on the building next to it.

If you’re wondering how anyone got away with spray painting on this scale well, they didn’t.

These works were created with the council’s blessing as part of a street art festival in 2011.

Today the city’s colourful urban art is celebrated as a star attraction, but the authorities haven’t always seen it that way.

Drinking hole

Before he was quite so famous, Bristolian graffiti artist Banksy went under cover — quite literally — to escape the attention of council workers at their desks in the offices opposite.

He put up a scaffold and tarpaulin to stencil his 2006 work, Well Hung Lover, on to the side of a building in Frogmore Street.

In a cheeky jibe at the oblivious city officials, it shows a suited man searching out through a window, flanked by his wife, while her naked lover clings to the ledge undetected.

As well as art, our walking route also takes in historic pubs where pirates like Blackbeard once plotted, including Bristol’s oldest drinking hole, The Hatchet Inn, dating back to the 1600s or earlier.

Gruesome urban legend has it the front door is covered in the skin of hanged criminals underneath the many coats of black paint you see on it today.

Then, winding our way back towards the present day, we stop by the empty plinth from which Black Lives Matter protesters toppled the statue of slave trader Edward Colston in 2020 before dumping it in the dock.

Now you can find the bronze figure lying ingloriously on its back, still tainted with red paint at M Shed museum (free to visit).

The artistic fun doesn’t end there, though.

I check in to Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, a Grade-II listed late-19th century building, which is a stunning landmark in its own right, with its beautifully-ornate wrought-iron and stained glass porch.

Inside, it’s bright and modern with original work by street artists.

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St Nicholas Market is around the corner and a great place to pick up gifts and grab a bite to eat from one of the enticing food stalls.

Or head to Chez Marcel on Broad Street, a few doors down from the hotel, which serves savoury and sweet crepes.

The crepe complete (ham, emmental and egg) washed down with a dry Breton cider is just as delicious as any I’ve had in France and all for less than £20.

It’s a city where you can travel the world with your taste buds and sample a different country’s cuisine at every meal.

At Sri Lankan mini-chain Coconut Tree, I try cheap and cheerful small plates including “hoppers” — bowl-shaped pancakes filled with coconut and onion relish.

And at upmarket Indian restaurant Nutmeg in Clifton, I have roast duck in a spiced creamy coconut sauce.

For cocktails, Cargo Cantina, in a harbour-side shipping container, mixes a mean Mexican margarita and Cafe Cuba in Stokes Croft has mojitos that are bursting with fresh mint.

With top-notch food and drink, pirate pubs and art around every corner, what more could you want from a city break?

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