I'll have a free afternoon to discover the delights of Toton this Thursday. I've never been there and was wondering if someone can give me directions for the best place to see and photograph what's about.
As a native of this area... (and grandparents who live around the corner from here)
I'm not sure you can get
that close to the depot, but if you head to the town of Toton itself, you can get some nice hilltop views over the depot. If you're wanting to photograph from there you might want to bring a camera with a good zoom lens!
I'd recommend parking on or near the bus-turning roundabout (AFAIK no buses go there any more) at the top of Banks Road/Epsom Road. You'll need to access this from the Tesco end of Banks Road - Epsom Rd is a no-thoroughfare.
Whilst the immediate area is at the top of a hill, you
can take a wander along footpaths down to Long Eaton, which takes you across the railway on a bridge. I don't think there are particularly good views of the depot from the bridge, but you might be able to time it right for some movements along the line.
Walk from Banks Rd to Long Eaton Asda.
Google Maps also seems to suggest there are some footpaths going along the western side of the site, although I'm unable to vouch for how much you are likely to see from there. If you're feeling energetic you might fancy
taking a circular walk via the Erewash Canal towpath. On the northern end of the walk you'll pass the vehicular entrance to the depot, as well as a couple of pubs in Sandiacre/Stabbo! You'll see almost nothing going down Bessell Lane though - it's mostly full of scrap merchants.