Have you ever walked into one of the world’s most prestigious museums and asked for a ticket to see the sex show? OK, maybe in Amsterdam. But the Natural History Museum?

The museum’s latest show explores the strategies and, yes, the physical intricacies of how animals get it on. Basically, it’s the science of animal sex.

Copulating hedgehogs, fish with flapping penises…it’s like they made an exhibition out of all those questions you never dared ask. Stunning photos, video footage, live animals and impressive taxidermy are the main orders of the day, all suitably bathed in mood lighting. And who knew that foxes do it back to back? No wonder they make such a noise.

Highlight for me was the preserved body of Guy the Gorilla. This most famous of primates was the darling of London Zoo until his death in 1978, having failed to produce any offspring. His taxidermed body is usually on display in Sheffield, but he’s made the trip down to his old stomping ground for this show. Incidentally, I think I’m right in saying that Guy the Gorilla is the only animal to have two outdoor statues in London – one in Crystal Palace Park, the other at the Zoo. That’s one more statue in the capital than Henry VIII. Beat that for a fact.

The BBC have a highlights video, to further lead you into temptation. Oh, and a quiz.

Sexual Nature runs at the Natural History Museum until 9 October. Tickets are £8, or £4 concessions.

You can find more amorous attractions in my roundup of scientific Valentine’s events