The constituency comprises the cathedral and university city of Canterbury, rural villages to the south, and the seaside resort of Whistable to the north.
History
;Constitutional status of seat The widened Canterbury constituency was formed from an expansion of the narrow parliamentary borough of the same name that existed from 1295 to 1918. This had elected two MPs from 1295 until 1885, and then one until 1918. ;Political history From 1835 until 2017, the local electorate elected candidates of the Conservative Party ; the seat was recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest uninterrupted period of one party holding a Parliamentary seat. The election of Labour's Rosie Duffield, who won the seat by just 187 votes in the 2017 election, marked the end of a 185-year period of Canterbury always electing Conservative-allied MPs, the longest recorded unbroken record of party representation in British political history.
Boundaries
1918–1950: The County Borough of Canterbury, the Urban Districts of Herne Bay and Whitstable, the Rural Districts of Bridge and Elham, and the Rural District of Blean with the detached parts of the parishes of Dunkirk and Hernhill which were wholly surrounded by the rural district. 1950–1983: The County Borough of Canterbury, the Urban Districts of Herne Bay and Whitstable, and the Rural District of Bridge Blean. 1983–1997: The City of Canterbury wards of Barham Downs, Barton, Blean Forest, Chartham, Chestfield, Gorrell, Harbledown, Harbour, Little Stour, Marshside, Northgate, North Nailbourne, St Stephen's, Seasalter, Stone Street, Sturry North, Sturry South, Swalecliffe, Tankerton, Westgate, and Wincheap, and the Borough of Swale wards of Boughton and Courtenay. 1997–2010: as 1983 less the two Borough of Swale wards. 2010–present: The City of Canterbury wards of Barham Downs, Barton, Blean Forest, Chartham and Stone Street, Chestfield and Swalecliffe, Gorrell, Harbledown, Harbour, Little Stour, North Nailbourne, Northgate, St Stephen's, Seasalter, Sturry North, Sturry South, Tankerton, Westgate, and Wincheap.
General Election 1914/15: Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
After findings of corruption, the writ for Canterbury was suspended and the election result voided. The constituency was reconstituted in 1885.
Elections|
Elections in the 1870s
Butler-Johnstone resigned, causing a by-election. Majendie resigned, causing a by-election.
Elections|
Elections in the 1860s
Johnstone resigned, causing a by-election.
Elections|
Elections in the 1850s
Denison was elevated to the peerage, becoming 1st Baron Londesborough, and causing a by-election.
Smythe retired before polling. The election was declared void on petition, due to bribery, and the writ suspended on 21 February 1853. A by-election was called to replace both MPs in August 1854.
Elections|
Elections in the 1840s
Caused by Bradshaw's death
Caused by Denison's resignation
Elections in the 1830s
On petition, Villiers was declared unduly elected and Lushington declared elected.
