AimThe aim of this study was to compare executive function in children with left‐ and right‐sided unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) and typically developing children.MethodThere was a cross‐sectional cohort of 46 children with unilateralCP(24 right‐side, 22 left‐side; 25 males, 21 females; mean age 11y 1mo,SD2y 5mo) and 20 typically developing children (nine males, 11 females; mean age 10y 10mo,SD2y 4mo). Four cognitive domains of executive function were assessed: attentional control, cognitive flexibility, goal setting, and information processing. Subtests from the Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System, the Test of Everyday Attention for Children, the Rey–Osterrieth Complex figure, and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fourth Edition were utilized. Between‐group differences (right unilateralCP, left unilateralCP, and typically developing children) were examined using analyses of covariance.ResultsChildren withCPperformed significantly more poorly than typically developing children on all executive function measures (aggregate executive function:F(1,63)=31.16;p<0.001; η2=0.33). There were no significant differences between children with left and right unilateralCP, except in the case of inhibition/switching total errors, with children with left unilateralCPmaking fewer errors than children with right unilateralCP(F(1,39)=4.14;p=0.049; η2=0.1).InterpretationChildren and adolescents with unilateralCPexperience difficulties across multiple executive function domains compared with typically developing children, irrespective of the side of hemiplegia. This finding supports an early vulnerability model of early brain injury and has implications for intervention for children withCP.