I fell off the chair when I read the comment about it going the wrong way. Reminds me of a BA bloke some years ago.... heading 090 downwind for 27s. I said "24 miles from touchdown" he said "but my DME says 12 miles"... I said "but you're going the wrong way!
It would be unlikely in the extreme for a Heathrow inbound to be heading east over Croydon at 3-4000 ft. Maybe 4000, but even that would be unlikely.. more like 5-6000. We're not usually allowed to descend below 4000 ft until a/c are within 13nm of touchdown.