A playground is to be built on the front lawn of Parliament in an effort to get more families to visit.

Photo: Supplied

Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard has made a number of changes at Parliament to try to make it more family-friendly for MPs, staff and visitors.

The play space will be on the smaller of the front lawns.

Photo: Supplied

Mr Mallard said it would also help to meet the rapidly growing need for play spaces in Wellington, as inner city apartment living becomes more common for young families.

He wants Copperfield's Café in Parliament to be opened to the public on non-sitting days.