From the DIY aesthetic of punk rock to the glittering excesses of glam rock and disco, via the cheeky chic of hotpants, the 70s had a bit of everything.
This retro photo gallery captures the best and worst of the 1970s in the UK, from music and fashion to political protest.
They show how Britain and Northern Ireland battled through power cuts and the three-day week, the petrol crisis in 1973 and the seemingly never-ending heatwave of 1976, and how we got to grips with new money when the nation went decimal in 1971.
They also chronicle some of the decade’s most memorable gigs by bands from the Sex Pistols to the Bay City Rollers, the bold designs in shades of orange and brown which dominated home decor back then, and the cars we drove.
Other popular modes of transport from the era are pictured too, from Chopper bicycles and roller skates to Space Hoppers and grass skiing.
The biggest stars of the day, the most addictive video games and a playground favourite familiar to anyone who grew up in the 70s also feature in this pictorial look back at an unforgettable decade.
If your memory stretches back even further, you might want to check out our retro photo gallery of the swinging 60s.
Do these photos bring back any memories for you? What do you think was the best and worst thing about the 70s? Let us know in the comments section.
37. Ready for take-off
BOAC trainee stewardesses looking out of the portholes of a mock-up plane in March 1971 | Getty Images Photo: Keystone
38. Matching hotpants
Models Gregorio and Valerie Jane sport unisex hot pants, made by Arthur Harrison & Co of Leeds, in March 1971 | Getty Images Photo: Mike Lawn/Fox Photos
39. Bonnie Langford
Young actress Bonnie Langford sits on a stack of suitcases with her dolls in January 1975 | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive
40. Video games
A shopper carries boxes of computer toys and games in June 1979, after a rush to buy was brought on by the expected rise in VAT in the Budget | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard