Owner News International opted to close the Sunday tabloid this week after a public outcry about allegations its reporters had hacked into the mobile phone voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and the families of the victims of the 7/7 bombings.
The paper lasted 168 years and 8,674 editions, and today's version includes a number of tributes to its most famous stories.
But its editorial also addressed the issue of the phone hacking, which took place before current editor Colin Myler and his team were in place.
'Quite simply, we lost our way,' it said.
'Phones were hacked, and for that this newspaper is truly sorry.
'There is no justification for this appalling wrong-doing.
'No justification for the pain caused to victims, nor for the deep stain it has left on a great history.'
Mr Myler also spoke to reporters outside the News of the World's offices late on Saturday night, after work on the final edition had been completed.
He said: 'It is the 8,674th edition after 168 years. It's not a position that any editor would want, to close a title and, of course, I didn't close it.
'I want to pay tribute to this wonderful team of people here who after a very difficult day have produced a wonderful paper.
'It is a sad day for the staff, this is not where we want to be and not where we deserve to be.'
Mr Myler added: 'And now in the best traditions of Fleet Street, we are going to the pub.'
Two police investigations connected to the News of the World are ongoing. One concerns phone hacking and the other claims the tabloid paid money to Metropolitan Police officers for information.
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