Victoria Tower Gardens, London

To the south of Parliament's Victoria Tower lie the charming Victoria Tower Gardens, offering scenic views of the Thames River. Here, visitors are welcomed by a statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, the leader of the suffragette movement, who passed away in 1928, the same year women gained voting rights equal to men. Flanking the statue are medallions honoring her daughter Christabel and a WPSU Prisoners' Badge. Turning the corner, you'll encounter a reproduction of Rodin's renowned sculpture, "The Burghers of Calais," which the British Government acquired in 1911, adding an unexpected artistic element to the surroundings.

At the far end of the gardens stands the Buxton Memorial, a neo-Gothic fountain composed of an eclectic mix of exotic materials, erected in 1865 to commemorate the 1834 abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Towards the southern boundary of the Gardens, there's a stone wall featuring two modern-style goats with their young ones. If you're in search of good seating spots, they can be found near the embankment, adjacent to a small children's park area for families with little ones who might enjoy a visit.