7/7 - where were you?

[CuppaTeaAndAJammieDodger]

Just realised it's the 7th anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings tomorrow.

I haven't thought about that day for some time now, but for a long time after there wasn't much else I could think about. Here's my recollection of the day.

I was on my way to a primary school outside of London to do some user testing for a course my company had developed and was en route between Bethnal Green, where I lived, and Waterloo.

I walked in to Liverpool Street Station and down in to the ticket area of the tube and made my way on to the eastbound platform just as a circle line train was pulling in. I was running pretty early so decided to grab a can of coke to wake me up from the kiosk on the platform, and let that train go by without me. Not long after the train had fully left the station there was a whooshing sound, soon followed by (which really stayed with me) a smell of burning (plastic or something).

A kind of controlled panic ensued, nobody knew what had happened, we all started getting off the platform as quickly as possible and the staff were ushering everyone out of the station. by the time I managed to get outside the emergency services were arriving. I had no idea what to do so just started walking to Waterloo, desperately trying to get a news feed up on my phone to see what was going on (this was 2005 - no smart phones back then!) but couldn't. It wasn't until I arrived at Waterloo that I found out what had happened and was told that I could leave London, but I wouldn't be getting back in today, so I decided to cancel the testing, make my way home and work from there.

I started to make my way, again on foot (public transport had obviously completely shut down), but every street I walked down seem to be being cordoned off by the police and I found myself walking further and further trying to find a route, then it started raining. Finally I managed to get to Bethnal Green Road after walking for what felt like hours, my mum managed to get through to me on my mobile after hours of trying, as soon as I heard her voice I just sat down on the curb and started crying - the gravity of the situation just hit me.

Took me a while to realise that that decision to have a can of coke could have potentially saved my life (dependent on what carriage I'd got on of course) - the ironic thing is I don't drink the stuff any more as I can't have caffeine due to panic attacks/anxiety issues.

Wow - that was long, sorry if I've bored you to death! That was the first time I've written down in detail what happened that day, rather cathartic really.

Interested to hear your memories of the day.

I was living near Brick Lane and working in the city. I was 5 months pregnant with DD. DH (then DP) had stayed at mine the night before and we got the Aldgate East train together. Our train went through the area where the bomb went off shortly before it happened.

I had a short walk from the station to the office so I knew nothing of what had happened until I got a call from my Mum. She'd been staying at my place temporarily while working in London. She called me to say she'd had to get off the train and she thought something bad had happened. She said she was waiting for a bus. I thought she was being dramatic because we still had heard nothing about it. Our office was right next to the city met police station, there was so much activity and noise coming from there I realised something was up so I called my Mum back. She'd got on a bus and then got off because she was scared. She'd been on a 30 bus, I don't think it was the one that was bombed though.

I can't describe how I felt really, it's hard to comprehend that people just like you had left for work in the morning and would not be coming home. I cried when i got home from work that evening. The mood in London was very jumpy for a long while after. I felt scared of the world I was bringing my first child into.

Someone who'd been to my school was on a bombed train, and she was in a picture that was on the front of a few papers the next day. I didn't really know her but we were connected on friends reunited because of the school. A journalist from a tabloid sent everyone in our year an email asking if we would like to talk to them about her.

bisjo I can't begin to imagine how frightened you must have been.

I was taking delivery of our sofa that morning so was going into work late. I had done the school run and had the radio on when the news started coming in about a power surge then bombings. Immediately put the tv on.

My DH works in the city, typically he took a bus from our then home to near his office on Fenchurch Street, that day he had a meeting so went from the bus stop into Aldgate. We had been on the phone but he said bye because he was going into the station. (We worked out he was on the train before as it was the last to successfully leave Aldgate, he ran for that train).

But anyway, he made it to his meeting, they were in serious negotiations and had basically shut themselves away and turned of their phones. Apparently they knew there were transport problems because someone came in and said electrical faults on the tube, big fuss, so they ignored any news. Problem was I knew the route and time DH had gone into the station and couldn't get in touch with him. I got in touch with work who said don't come in, and I was trying to contact DH, I spoke to his office who said they weren't sure he had made it to the meeting. I was distraught, then the bloody sofa turned up. I spent the day a complete wreck, I was vomiting, couldn't stop crying I was absolutely distraught. I decided I couldn't be at home so I made my way partly by bus partly by running down to aldgate I couldn't find him, kept seeing all these people wandering around some looked injured others looked dazed. I asked what I think was a fireman although could of been police who convinced me to go home which in the end I did. I actually forgot I was supposed to pick the DC up. I got in touch with DH after 6pm so was a long day, when he came home I sat on the floor and cried and cried.

Obviously I'm aware I didn't suffer the trauma or the loss that others have but for those hours where I convinced myself he was dead it was just desperate.I know so many other stories of people being caught up in it I do feel as connected to the event. I found it devastating, I think because at the time 90-95% of people I know worked and lived in London. A friend of mine was sat in traffic and watched the bus explode

Oh and yes we still use the tube, as do our dc. We were back on it the day after to the day after that. In London its like the roads, most peoples lives involve it by necessity.

I was a student and was asleep when it happened. I was living not that far from one of the bombing locations at the time, and it wasn't inconceivable that I could've been on a tube that morning. I did it all the time. Luckily for me, it was a day I didn't have to be in uni until the afternoon.

I woke up when my worried aunt called me. I missed her call, but switched on the tv so I didn't go back to sleep (close to when I needed to be up). All I saw was emergency vehicles and sketchy information coming through. Took several minutes to figure out what had actually happened.

Didn't even try to make it to uni that day. Couldn't stop watching the news channels that day.

One of my DC had gone on a school trip with some visiting German students on the underground. Dozens of parents turned up at the school to wait for news and we had a horrible few hours to wait until one of the teachers managed to phone through via a public payphone to say that they were all ok.

I had to travel into London a few days later and was very tearful throughout the journey

On a more positive note, a family member is friends with Martine Wright (who lost both legs) and she is an amazing inspiration to everyone who has met her. We should all cheer her on during the London paralympics!

Arrived in Liverpool St. There appeared to be a problem with transport, power surge or something, but I set off for the City where my office was based. Received message on BlackBerry from friend - go home, there are bombs. Couldn't get into the City. Walked for miles. Was near Whitechapel Hospital and recall sirens and helicopters and police and buses being used as ambulances. Feeling shocked and terrified, like 09/11, the world was about to end. Just wanted to be with my family.Trying to contact my DH, who also works in the City, but all mobile networks were closed down (he was fine, but I didn't find out for hours).

Subsequently found out that the friend who contacted me had a very lucky escape. She went into the office early to catch up on work. She would normally have travelled with her friend - her friend was very seriously injured, in a coma, the last victim to be identified - in the end, only traced through her car keys, although she has made a reasonable recovery and, amazingly, still works in London and still takes the undeground.

I was on one of the trains that was bombed. Don't want to out myself so won't say which one. Iwas very lucky and escaped with minor injuries. But developed PTSD. Did continue to use tube as no choice really. Thoughts with everyone affected by that day.

I was there working in Euston tower. Was on the underground when the bombs went off, pulled into Warren Street station, power went and we were told to walk up the escalators. I was running late too and missed the train the bomb was on. I then went into work and a while later felt a rumble and an odd bang - it was the Russell Square bus.

I made my way out of London by walking for 2 hours to an station on the edge of London and got the last train back to my home town. I didn't get on the underground for 4 months and luckily could walk from Kings Cross to Euston Tower in 15 minutes. I had to walk past the site of the bus for weeks as it took such a long time to clear the area. There were posters of missing everywhere and it was so so hard to walk past and carry on.

I worked with my mum and that day she was ill and hadn't come into work which I am so glad of as she whips me into shape and we would not have been running late!

One of the most poignant things was the silence everyone had shortly after when all the office workers came out into the street, cars stopped, everyone got off of buses... phenominally moving and respectful.

Life is precious and this was cathartic for me... never have I felt so mortal and grateful that I missed that train

I was in Germany doing a course. Had never lived in London, so I didn't really have friends there, or know where any of the places mentioned were, but I remember feeling scared and really sad for all involved.

I live in London now, pass through Aldgate most days on the train and honestly I never worry about there being a bomb or anything. Using the tube is just a fact of life for me, if I didn't it would make life very difficult. Maybe if I'd been living in London at the time, I'd be more wary. Not sure.

I know one guy who literally walks everywhere though.

It was going to be my first day of a new job in London and I had a 9.15am appointment at the Institute of Education. Had just moved to Surrey and was unsure of the Tube network so planned my journey so that I'd get off the tube at Russell Square at 9ish, allowing me 15 mins or so to find the place. I started to feel ill late the night before, thought it was nerves at first but had the most awful d & v through the all night. I called in sick at 8am, bosses were great about it. Fell asleep shortly after and woke to my mobile and landline constantly ringing with people trying to get hold of me to check I was ok.

I went back to work on the Tuesday, using the tube. Nervous at first but determined. I remember looking at the We're Not Afraid website in tears at all the support that came in from around the world. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected in any way with the devastating events of that day x

I was in London commuting to work. I often met a colleague at Finsbury Park and we took the Piccadilly line together but that morning I was feeling a little worse for wear as DP and i had had a night out the night before. As I was feeling a bit dodgy I decided to stay on the overground train instead of going on the tube and walk the last bit to work. I made it to work and as I walked in news was just filtering through what had happened.

We spent the next few hours tracking down colleagues to make sure everyone was ok but couldn't get hold of the guy I often travelled in with. It was hours before we got hold of him and he'd been on the Piccadilly line train which blew up - he was ok but totally traumatised and suffered PTSD for years after.

Like the OP I've never been able to get over the fact that a chance decision as i was hungover could have saved my life. It's even more bizarre that I was in Phuket when the 2004 tsunami happened and would have been on the beach that morning except an hour before it happened I decided to go back to my hotel because I was hungover and wanted to sleep off my cocktail binge...

I was on a school trip to South Africa. We flew overnight from Johannesburg to Heathrow, so heard nothing about the bombings until we landed. The security was unbelievable, and it was incredibly chaotic. I was chaperoning ten tired, homesick teenagers, and they found it very difficult to deal with - having gone from three weeks in the African bush to a full-on high security situation. After many hours delay, we transferred to another flight, and I have never been so glad to get home from a trip. I remember getting home (I live in N America), and reading about what had happened online, aghast. I am a Londoner, born and bred, and just a few years earlier, I had taken those same routes to work everyday...

I lived in Spitalfields and usually walked to work but had taken the bus that morning (was late for a meeting). I had actually thought about taking the tube to Blackfriars but thought the bus would be quicker. I came out of the meeting about 9.45 to hear the first reports of electrical surges on the tube.

Eerie walking home that evening. No traffic - people using Cheapside like it was a pedestrianised boulevard - and so many people moving in silence clutching A-Zs. Felt very lucky to live close enough to home to walk (one colleague bought a fold-up bike to get home to Sevenoaks) but getting onto my street was tricky due to all the road closures.

Then, twice a day, for the next couple of weeks I walked past the photo wall on Liverpool St of some of the missing people with all the desperate messages from their families. Just heartbreaking.

This thread is really moving and glad I found it as woke up feeling like I wanted to do something to pay respect.

I was living in Spain and at a friends beach house with her parents. Had been out the country for a year and was feeling quite patriotic after hearing the Olympic bid news and defending London to the disappointed Spanish after Madrid's loss.

Hearing the news I immediately contacted all my friends and family in London, some of which didnt even know what was going on.

I remember never feeling so far away from home as on that day. I caught a flight back 10 days later

Prayers to everyone who was affected and mouldyironing I watched Martine's story on the 7/7 bbc2 documentary - so inspiring I will be rooting for her!

I was on the Piccadilly Line, I must have been just in front of it. I could easily have got on the stricken train and I'd have been in that carriage too because I always got on on the same carriage. I made it to Green Park and they were evacuating the station. I walked home from Mayfair to Crouch End that night.

I was feeling achy that day, so I caught the tube at Liverpool Street. My work was equidistant from Aldgate and Aldgate East stations, the first train was going to Aldgate East so I hopped on.
Walking out of Aldgate East, I heard what I thought was the builders above dropping loads of scaffolding and I mentally cursed them. Of course it was the bomb at Aldgate.
Spent all day sitting in the office, trying to track down missing colleagues (everyone was OK in the end) and then mid afternoon started trying to get home via Fenchurch Street - I've never seen such huge, quiet crowds as the mass of people waiting their turn to catch a train.

This, plus other experiences of bombings in London, really makes me feel uncomfortable about travelling to London now. I don't work there any more. My instinct is not to take the children there - but I force myself to be rational and take them to the museums etc.

I had flown to Brussels early that morning for a work meeting. We were waiting in the lobby of the EC Commission when we saw the news on the TV screen. Before we had any time to process the information we were taken into our meeting with a Spanish official, who looked at us with huge sorrow and said something along the lines, I feel your country's pain (it was not long after the Madrid train bombings).

I remember feeling very scared as we flew towards Heathrow that evening.

I was celebrating my birthday. Every birthday is tinged with sadness now :(

Know how you feel mrsseanbean. My birthday is 9/11

I don't remember where I was but I do remember that a friend's brother narrowly missed being on the bus that blew up on Tavistock Square - he was going for a medical board exam of some kind, and that should have been the bus he would have taken; except he took an earlier one. As it was, he was in a building very close to where the bus was, and he and other medics came out and started to help the victims of the bombing. He never talked about it - it was too shocking for him - but I remember it because my friend was desperately trying to get in touch with him to check he was ok and not on that bus.

I was in hospital with my DD who had cancer.

I was teaching in inner London and at that time, we thought the attacks were considerably worse than they were. Loads of the children (and teachers) were uncertain about the whereabouts of family members and were really, really worried. Definitely an air of panic.

We ended up cancelling classes and just sitting around listening to the news whilst comforting crying children.

Logistically it was a nightmare. I think we actually ended up having to keep them all late too, because the police didn't want public transport flooded with loads of children. I remember having to drive children who did not live within walking distance home.

BUT loads of teachers had it way worse because it is a classic time to take children on school trips. I know we had several trips running in which the teachers just ended up having to attempt walking back. My mum was on a trip to Windsor and will be forever grateful to Eton school, who ended up taking in the kids just so that they could have somewhere to sit whilst they waited for the bus.

I was working in a restaurant in New York at the time and walked in to the kitchen just as the news was coming on to the radio.
We were witnesses to the 9/11 attack and were still trying to get a sense of normality back to our lives so I was avoiding reading the news around that time. Customers wanted to chat about it with me all day but I had no idea what had actually happened until I got home that evening and looked it up on the bbc website.

I was getting ready to open the pub that I managed with dh in south London when my brother in law called. He said asked me where dh was and I said he was upstairs and asked why. He told me to turn on my TV. We were based opposite a hotel. None of our staff could get in and the hotel residents couldn't get out so we were packed with only the two of us trying to do everything. TV was on all day, everyone was shocked and drank a lot.

I remember the minutes silence too, I was on holborn, the whole street stopped, I will never forget it.

I got to work early via the Picadilly Line (changing to Northern at Kings Cross). Not really sure what time I was travelling, but as usual, there were delays and if memory serves, in the end I got a bus to Camden. It was pretty surreal, my colleague arrived late and whilst reading the BBC news site, we were bitching about how hard it was to get into work... but there was a strange atmosphere. The building was kind of empty and our phones didn't work. The website didn't really work after a while, then the landlines stopped working. By then, we knew it was a terrorist attack. I suppose that since 9/11 we were expecting it.

Speaking as someone who was lucky enough not to know anyone who was involved, what was strange was the eeryness of it all. Walking home with the crowds of people, no one saying anything. So surreal.

What really really stays in my mind though was going to a club night a few days later. People were edgy and a bit hyper, you could tell that everyone there wasn't sure if they wanted to be, but was really determined to not let "them" win, so we had come out anyway, in a sort of unspoken protest. When the dancefloor was at peak levels, the DJ played "Don't Stop Me Now" and every single person got onto the dance floor and sung along, screaming to the bit about "wo, wo, wo explode"... it was euprhoric. London had survived, we won, they lost, fuck them. I shall never, never forget it. .