Piccadilly Circus was placed on lockdown after a man scrambled up the 11-metre high Statue of Eros.
The athletic night-time reveller climbed to the top of the iconic London landmark in front of stunned members of the public shortly before 10pm.
A small number of callous onlookers allegedly urged him to jump as police spent around 20 minutes trying to talk him down, a witness said.
While they did so, officers taped off much of the intersection - famous for its statue and large digital advertising screens.
Police used a cherry-picker in an effort to bring the man down. Eventually he climbed to safety on his own.
Scotland Yard confirmed police were called at about 9.45pm on Friday, and said officers later arrested a man at the scene before taking him into custody.
