Red Light Direct Tour | Mackies Granddaysout

Red Light Direct and sex sales Tour

A red-light district or pleasure district is a part of an urban area where a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, and adult theaters, are found. In most cases, red-light districts are particularly associated with female street prostitution, though in some cities, these areas may coincide with spaces of male prostitution and gay venues. Areas in many big cities around the world have acquired an international reputation as red-light districts.

The most known area for this is Red Light District Amsterdam

From prostitution to erotic shops and from museums to churches. Amsterdam Red Light District has it all.

Amsterdam has three different Red Light Districts but the most famous and the most attractive is the one located inside the city center.

Red Light District Safety

Contrary to what a lot of people might assume, the Amsterdam Red Light District has a friendly atmosphere and isn't as dangerous as it used to be. It is actually a safe area as many policemen and private bodyguards are always on duty.

When to go to Red Light District Amsterdam?

During the day, the district is less lively and even less attractive as the more messy aspects reveal themselves in natural daylight. Although there are women tapping on the windows even during the light hours, most of the action takes place around 11pm. The district is swarming with crowds and the red neon lights illuminate the canals. The atmosphere lives until around 2am or 3am when the streets get emptier and businesses shuts down.

Attractions in the Amsterdam Red Light District

Because RLD is in the historical centre of Amsterdam city, it is close to many interesting attractions and architectural wonders. For example:

Amsterdam Pass

Visiting Amsterdam is easier and cheaper with a "City Pass".
With one card you can go to most tourist destinations without other tickets.
Comparison of Amsterdam city passes and discount cards.

DO's and DON'T DO's - how to behave

It is forbidden to take pictures or videos of the women behind their windows. A sign is sticked on every window as a reminder. If you try to take a photograph, the working women may become aggressive.

The same rule is applicable if you go to a strip club, peep show or sex theater. It is best to keep your phone or camera in your pocket or bag. Otherwise you risk being kicked out by the bouncers.

Watch out for pick-pocketers as this is almost always a crowded area.

Do not buy from dealers. They sell drugs, bikes or other stuff. It is risky and illegal. Do not support such activities.

Don't visit the Red Light District first. You may get the wrong idea about Amsterdam. This is not all we are about.

Accommodation in Red Light District

The best way to compare Red Light District accommodation options is by using the well-known booking engine "Booking.com". As the largest provider of this service they often have good deals and list all accomodation types. Hotels, hostels, apartments even houseboats. From budget to luxury. You can access their listings on this
Red Light District accommodation deals webpage.

Prostitution in Red Light District

Amsterdam prides itself on its liberal and tolerant attitude. Embracing the fact that people may be into prostitution, soft drugs and pornography. And that it is only human. So instead of criminalizing it, they enjoy the honesty of it.

Prostitution is a legal profession in the Netherlands. But not on the streets. Legal prostitutes in Amsterdam stand up behind a window and have their own room in the back. They are also regulated and controlled by police, tax and health authorities.

Health of Red light district prostitutes

The city health services inform the prostitutes about free or low-cost medical care. A number of organizations, some of them established by the prostitutes themselves, try to help sex workers with their problems. The whole profession is in good condition thanks to legality and regulations of practices.

RLD clubs, pubs, shows and shops

The Amsterdam Red Light District is not only about prostitution. You can find here a great variety of strip clubs, sex theaters, peep shows, coffeeshops, typical Dutch brown cafes and sex shops. Furthermore, there are a few fun yet educational establishments such as the museum of prostitution, the erotic museum or the museum of cannabis.

For the daring, there are shows that will be presented to you personally. For example in the Amsterdam Banana Bar.

For the adventurous ,there are live sex shows. The most famous are at the theatres Casa Rosso or at the Moulin Rouge.

For the shy there are peep shows. Those may come with video booths.

The RLD is also home to many gay bars and cinemas which can be found on the very busy Warmoesstraat.

For goods, there are many eclectic shops of videos, magazines, sex aids and toys.

Coffeeshops in the Red Light District

Most of the Amsterdams coffeeshops are located in the Red Light District. You can easily recognize them. Read our page dedicated to them and discover the history and the best places to experience such atmosphere.

Ban on public marijuana smoking of 2023

The ban is in effect from May 2023 in the public areas of Dam Square, Red Light District, Damrak and Nieuwenmarkt. It is still possible to smoke cannabis outdoors on coffeeshops terraces. But if you are caught smoking freely on the street you will be charged with a 100 euro penalty. This law is trying to calm down disorder in touristic areas.

Short history of Amsterdam Red Light District

The Area of Red Light District was built up since the 14th century. At that time, the harbor was not far from there. And that is why prostitution has started there. Sailors were coming to this area in order to enjoy drinks in taverns and to enjoy girls.

In Dutch, the Red Light District is called "De wallen" (the walls) because some of the canals located in the area and next to the old harbor used to be walled. The second explanation is because "wall" used to be a code name for "paid sex". Locals call this area also "Rosse Burt" (Dutch for red neighbourhood).

Red Light District architecture

The Rossebuurt is one of the oldest and most interesting parts of the city. The architecture is beautiful and typically Dutch. The beauty of its buildings is a reason why everyone should walk around this area also during the day.

It has long, winding, narrow, cobbled streets and utterly charming 14th century architecture. Such as the gothic Oude Kerk and other old buildings that lean at odd angles. Also nice tree enshrouded canals.

The arrival of new and classier restaurants, resurfaced streets, restored facades and trendier clientele are transforming what was once a dark and seedy part of town.

Churches in Red Light District

This colourful neighbourhood also contains the monolithic Old Church, the Saint Nicolas Church, and the museum "Our Lord in the Attic" - a Catholic Church atop a seventeenth century merchant house.

Public transportation to Red Light District

As you can see on the map below, the Red Light District is in the centre of Amsterdam old town. So to get there from the touristic part of town shouldn't be a problem on foot.

And if you are further away then you can use:
- trams numbers 4 or 14 to the tramstop Dam
- trams numbers 2, 12, 13, 17, 26 to the tramstop Centraal Station

If you get the right version of Amsterdam city pass you may have transportation included.

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Our tour is more UK-based most of the areas are known location's around the UK we must inform that most photo's we have taken have blocked out the faces of the girl's for safety.

The exchange of sexual services for money is legal in the UK (apart from in Northern Ireland where it's illegal to pay for sex). But, these related activities are illegal under the Sexual Offences Act 2003: soliciting (trying to get clients) on the street or other public place, including someone in a vehicle.

for support please go to https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/sw/sex-worker-safety/

Blackpool

Dew to the rules on youtube we are not allowed to post anything on there platform that is classed as sex this is why this part of the Blackpool video that is on season two is here.

In this video I expand a little on how the massage parlours/saunas are allowed to operate in this area, as well as finding a couple of new places I did not cover on the Blackpool video. hope you enjoy.

Manchester

Each time they get into a stranger’s car, the women working the streets of Manchester’s red light districts risk robbery and violent attack.

But they know there’s one vehicle where they are guaranteed to be safe. In between punters they can go and warm up, have a chat with a friendly face, get a hot sweet drink and a pie.

It's an urban oasis. And, four nights a week, this van can be found in the red light districts of Strangeways, Cheetham Hill and Back Piccadilly.

It’s cosy and welcoming, offering temporary respite from a tough job. It’s a safe space where the city's on-street sex workers can seek health or legal advice, find out information about dodgy punters or just pick up some condoms. It's also a place where they can chat about life and pass the time of day, like any other worker. No-one will judge them behind these doors

Run by sex workers’ charity, Manchester Action for Street Health, this white motorhome is making a real difference to the lives of hundreds of society’s most marginalised women.

It's also revealing the harsh reality of life in Greater Manchester’s underbelly. From women selling sex to pay the bills, to being tricked into unprotected encounters with strange men, to the emergence of worrying new trends - MASH's frontline staff hear it all.

Two things are clear. Austerity and migration - poverty here and abroad - has changed the nature of the sex trade in Manchester, meaning the women caught up in it are as vulnerable as they've ever been.

Hot chocolate is the most popular choice among the sex workers who step aboard for a drink, staff say.

more info can be found here https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/brutal-streets-red-light-districts-15304103

Huddersfield's red-light district

Residents in Alder Street want action to deter 'kerb crawlers' and sex workers

Resident Paul Riley is content with his neighbourhood and is happy to sing the praises of Fartown.

The 49-year-old has lived there for around four years and is well aware of Alder Street and its reputation as Huddersfield's red-light district.

It doesn't really bother him, although he admits the sex trade "goes on all day and some of them do it all night."

He describes the area around the notorious Alder Street red-light district as not only 'quiet' but also a great place to live, mainly because it has decent shops.

"It's good for shops - there's a 24-hour one which is open all night, and there is Javid's mini supermarket on Bradford Road."

He's also impressed by Kirklees Council and their speedy response to dealing with rubbish.

"If you have any rubbish the council collects it quickly. The good are with this."

Others are not so complimentary about the area, claiming that the sex trade is a blight on the neighbourhood and makes them feel embarrassed when friends or relatives are visiting.

One man, 44, told YorshireLive: "I have seen people having sex in little corners [of a back terrace] where they think they can't be seen.

"I get home from work in the early hours and I see them. I've seen them in the open, near to a garage door. If the garage door is open, they go in there."

He says drug dealing in the street has been a problem but appears to have reduced recently.

"You do see a few 'Asbos' (anti-social behaviour orders) walking around. I think the drugs issue is getting better.

"If the police were unmarked they would be caught easier."

Speaking about his neighbours, he says: "The neighbours are a nice bunch and we all get along with each other."

Resident Zia Khan, who lives just off Alder Street, says he sometimes sees prostitutes hanging around on street corners at 8am.

He says residents used to tell the council about the problems associated with the sex trade but "they told us it had been going on for hundreds of years and they can't fix it."

Mr Khan said residents were sometimes mistaken as 'punters' and it was embarrassing when relatives came to visit.

Mr Khan, along with a neighbour who did not want to be named, said the area was blighted by drug users and fly-tippers. They believe some residents have tipped waste in the past.

They have reported finding used syringes in gardens as well as condoms.

"It's dangerous for kids. Nobody is doing anything," said Mr Khan.

His friend added: "The council tip is just around the corner but we see tenants leaving rubbish on the street. It is degrading and really bad."

He said that street prostitution "calmed" during the pandemic but had returned with "full force".

Some residents claim that street prostitution leads to noisy confrontations which upset families and older residents.

Halifax

The application to renew the sexual entertainment venue licence for La Salsa, Halifax, was approved by Calderdale licensing councillors, with that proviso.

Although the police and ward councillors had not raised any issues about the application, it was opposed, including by representatives from Calderdale WomenCentre, which is across Silver Street from the club.

Opponents of the club set out their case and also expressed concern that windows containing silhouettes of naked women in the design, which they claimed the club had been told to remove or cover before, had not been altered.

Sub-committee Chair Coun Stephanie Clarke (Lab, Illingworth and Mixenden) read out the panel’s resolution that the application would be granted – but all windows at La Sal-sa must be opaque, removing or covering the images.