It lends its name to a section of the A3 road that runs southwest from the Elephant and Castle junction. This road continues as Kennington Park Road, leading to Kennington, while a right fork takes the traveller to Kennington Lane, leading to Vauxhall Bridge. Notably, the renowned scientist Michael Faraday was born in Newington Butts in 1791.

The name "Newington Butts" is believed to have originated from an archery "butts," which refers to a practice field. Additionally, the area was associated with an Elizabethan theatre, which witnessed the earliest recorded performances of some of William Shakespeare’s plays. This historical significance adds to the charm and cultural heritage of Newington Butts.

Newington village developed along the Walworth Road at its junction with the Portsmouth Road, approximately a mile south of London Bridge. As it fell outside the jurisdiction of the City of London, Newington became a haven for activities such as plays that were prohibited near London during hot weather to prevent the spread of infection.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the triangular area between the roads was known as the Three Falcons and was under the copyhold of the Walworth manor.

In more recent times, in the spring of 2008, St Mary’s Churchyard, a green open space situated on the northern border of Newington Butts, underwent revitalisation. The area now includes a children’s playground, featuring concrete mounds with rubber surfaces that add interest and varied topography to the space. Although these mounds might resemble archery butts, the Elephant and Castle Regeneration Team has refuted this association.

In Cockney rhyming slang, ’Newington Butts’ is used to mean ’guts.’