Shawlands and Langside lie to the north of the district (the White Cart Water forming the boundary), Pollokshaws and Auldhouse to the west, Giffnock (East Renfrewshire) to the south, and Merrylee and Cathcart to the east.

One of the Glasgow Academy preparatory schools is in Newlands, located in a blonde sandstone villa, a type of house extremely common in this area.

There was previously a Glasgow Corporation Tramways depot on the site from the 1910s.

Notable residents include Ricky Ross and Kelly Macdonald The district originated as farmland in Cathcart Parish (on the opposite side of the White Cart Water from Pollokshaws, which was in Eastwood Parish).

The working farm buildings such as the stables, byre and dairy were situated at the "Mains of Newlands".