The suburb is bisected by the A45 dual-carriageway, with a major state housing development (built in the early-1950s) lying to the south and an area of private housing (Canley Gardens) situated north of this road towards Canley rail station.

Canley is known as the site of the main factory of the Standard Motor Company and was all open farmland before 1916.

The initial factory was built around 'Ivy Cottage', near the Canley Train Halt and was first used in 1916 to build First World War fighter aircraft.

Some of the Triumph car factory site was retained as a technical centre until the mid-1990s but was successively demolished thereafter.

Sir Henry Parkes (1815–1896), Australian statesman and five times Premier of New South Wales, was born in Canley, in a cottage off Moat House Lane.