One Direction have returned to the UK to a rousing reception after their latest world tour ended.

The lads have been busy this year promoting their 2012 record 'Take Me Home' and their live jaunt only increased their already massive public profile.

The tour came to an end in Japan earlier this month following a slew of dates across Australia and New Zealand in October.

The quintet arrived home from their travels - which began in February - via London's Heathrow Airport on Monday (November 4).

They were mobbed by fans who have been deprived of bumping into the 'Up All Night' lads for much of the year.

Tweeting meanwhile at the weekend about their Take Me Home tour, Niall Horan said:

"134 shows! And I wasn't bored for one show because we have the best fans on the planet, and we do all this for u, coz u gave all of this t us."

One Direction's cycle, however, is set to start all over again with the release of third album 'Midnight Memories' on November 25.

It has been preceded by the track 'Story of My Life', with the song's video currently battling Miley Cyrus's 24-hour VEVO view record.

The US star's 'Wrecking Ball' clip smashed the one-day hits record earlier this year with a massive 19.3m views.