The photos tell the story -- it was a rough year for Lindsay Lohan.

These pics of Lindsay were snapped as she returned to her London hotel just before the stroke of midnight.

Lohan looked disheveled and a little bloated after celebrating the end of a year that included --

-- a car crash
-- 3 fresh criminal charges for lying to cops
-- getting her probation in the jewelry heist case revoked
-- arrested in NYC for assault
-- arrested in NYC for hit and run
-- calling cops after epic fight in NYC with Dina
-- huge tax problems
-- Liz and Dick
-- Liz and Dick
--Liz and Dick