The cathedral city has seen a steady erosion of the Conservative majority at every election since 1979. However, the once-huge 22,000 majority shrunk at the last election to just 4,000.
Canterbury is a cathedral city and spiritual centre of the Church of England.
Education is important in the town with grammar schools, comprehensives, colleges, two leading public schools and the University of Kent.
Conservative-controlled Kent County Council has been at the forefront of the campaign to retain grammar schools. In early 2000, their opponents had to call off the abolition campaign after they were unable to gather enough signatures for a ballot.
However, one of its sons, the playwright Christopher Marlowe (1564-93) hardly conformed to its present conservative reputation.
There are above average numbers in the professional/managerial and technical social groups. Pensioners are also more numerous here than in the average seat - they make up nearly a quarter of the population.