It was a decade full of great music, from disco to punk; fantastic movies, from Jaws and Star Wars to The Godfather; and classic video games, like Space Invaders.
But it was also a tough time, with soaring unemployment and industrial unrest creating great hardship for many people.
While many of you probably have great memories of the 70s, there are lots of things you’d probably rather forget - including certain fashions, food and fragrances forever associated with that decade.
Below are just some of the things you probably don’t miss about the 70s if you were around.
What do you think were the best and worst things about 70s life in the UK? Let us know in the comments section or by emailing [email protected].
1. School dinners
Obviously it depends where you were educated but few people who grew up during the 70s have fond memories of school dinners. Liver and onions is one of the least popular dishes which was found on most school menus back then. While it can be delicious, many children of the 70s still have nightmares about the 'grey tubey' liver they were served, and that dinner lady who would stand over you and force you to eat it all. Another taste sensation of the 70s was green custard and chocolate sponge, which some youngsters loved but others hated with a passion. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard
2. The overpowering aroma of patchouli
If one smell summed up the 70s, for many people it was patchouli. You couldn't escape the powerful, earthy fragrance, which became associated with the hippy movement - not least due to its ability to mask the scent of weed. Some people love the smell of patchouli but to others it reeks of mildew or sweat, and one person called it 'migraine-inducing'. It's not surprising that a scent once used to mask the stench of decomposing bodies provokes such a strong reaction. | Getty Images Photo: Monty Fresco/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive
3. Squeezing into - and out of - the tightest pair of flares
They may have had plenty of ventilation around the calves and ankles but flares - another fashion statement beloved by hippies during the 70s - could be notoriously tight around the thighs and hips. It looks like Slade guitarist Dave Hill is enlisting the help of his bandmates here to get out of his flares. Learning to walk in platform shoes like those wasn't easy, either! | Getty Images Photo: R. Brigden/Express/Hulton Archive
4. Losing your toys amid the shag carpet
Is it possible for any picture to scream 70s decor more than this one? All the classic design features that marked the decade are there, including the must-have thick shag carpet. Some people loved the comfort and found it vastly preferable to the modern trend for bare wooden floors. But others found it a nightmare to clean, while for youngsters there was always the danger of losing your favourite toy. | Getty Images Photo: Three Lions
5. The taste of Blue Nun
If there was one drink which summed up the 70s, it was surely Blue Nun. It was certainly highly quaffable and an easy introduction to wine at a time when most people were still drinking beer and spirits. But many drinkers found it sickly sweet and even headache-inducing, and its popularity gradually faded. | National World Photo: James Hardisty
6. The garish colour scheme
70s decor was a full-on assault on the senses, from which some of us are still recovering. From the carpets and curtains to the wallpaper and even kitchen worktops, almost everything was a shade of brown or orange - often with vibrant patterns like swirls or concentric circles. The one room with a different colour scheme was often the bathroom, though the avocado green which was all the rage back then has aged even more poorly. Of course, some people still love the classic 70s colours and patterns, which they find much more inspiring than the muted palettes typical of homes today. | SWNS Photo: Tom Maddick