In celebration of the London 2012 Games, Boris Johnson hosted Piccadilly Circus Circus, an event that saw Central London transform into an actual circus.

More than 240 international circus artists including aerialists, high wire trapeze artists, hula hoopers, jugglers and stilt acrobats performed at the event.

The Mayor of London reassured onlookers that he would not be involving himself in any zip wire antics due to his first zip wire incident being such “a fiasco”.

Boris told spectators to prepare themselves for what was to come and added: "Not many people know that 18th century London was home to modern circus and the first shopping arcades in Britain."

The day culminated at sunset with a dramatic aerial finale in Piccadilly Circus.