The constituency might have been better described as North-Eastern Somerset, since its limits stopped well short of the southern extremities of the county. It surrounded the cities of Bath and Wells (although both were boroughs electing MPs in their own right, freeholders within these boroughs who met the property-owning qualifications for the county franchise could vote in East Somerset as well, as could those in Frome); other towns in the division were Glastonbury, Burnham-on-Sea, Clevedon, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Portishead, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton and Weston-super-Mare.
The constituency might have been more accurately described as North-Eastern Somerset, since its boundaries did not cover the southernmost regions of the county. It surrounded cities like Bath and Wells (which were independent municipalities with their own elected officials), but also allowed residents from these cities who met specific property-owning requirements to vote in East Somerset, along with those from Frome; other towns within the division included Glastonbury, Burnham-on-Sea, Clevedon, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Portishead, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, and Weston-super-Mare.