LWP::Simple is what you're looking for 
use LWP::Simple;
my $html = get 'http://www.perl.com/pub/a/2000/12/begperl4.html';

[download]
(for other things, WWW::Mechanize is a wonderful tool as well)

Here's LWP::Simple thread from the PM Tutorials: Getting more out of LWP::Simple

In reply to Re: opening html files by davidrw
in thread opening html files by joepepsi18

Title:
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and:  <code> code here </code>
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