You've only got to spend 5 minutes on flightradar24 to see what a amazing job ATC do getting everyone safely into LHR.
I have noticed there does seem to be some odd looking approach patterns some flights take. Example AA98 that's just arrived into LHR. It's done a couple of laps around South West London then flew over LHR to North London then come into land on what looks like 27R.
SIXTH FREEDOM
Think this is a perfect example of the S approach you describe.
