Here’s Gary photographing the view on one of our trips (er yes, he is stood just behind the sign warning of dangerous cliffs. He’s like that) View used in this context means what is seen from a particular point. Of course what we can see might be a row of overflowing bins, but usually it’s taken to refer to a picturesque, natural scene.

It can also mean the extent of visibility (his mistake was made in full view of his mother-in-law) a visual or mental survey (she viewed the results), an opinion or mental attitude (his mother-in-law held strong views about his intelligence) or with the aim of attaining something (she had a view to a divorce) or to bear something in mind (in view of what she’d seen him do).

A viewing is an opportunity for a visual inspection, such as when house hunting. Once you’ve viewed it you might want to take a long term view of it’s suitability.

In view of the length of this post, I’ll stop now and fill the kettle with a view to making a nice pot of tea.