The best way I've found to learn HTML, or any kind of coding, is through a free online tutorial like w3schools. In fact, that site is the best one I've found, and a lot of the tech types I know use it. They have just about every language you could want to learn. The tutorials are simple, and easy to follow. They even have examples you can click on, that will take you to a page that shows the HTML code in a box on the left side of the screen, and the results on the right side. You can edit the code, mess around with it, and hit a button, and the right side of the screen will show you the new results, so you can experiment and learn faster. You can go at your own pace. And it's free, free, free! You take your time, learn a language from their tutorials for free, and they get their money if you decide you want to get an actual certification in a language. You pay them about $60, and take 60 question exam in 60 minutes. (No essay questions!) If you pass, they send you your certification and you can put it on your resume. They offer the value of learning languages to everyone, and you pay them money only if you want certification to show for it. If you just want the skills, you can learn it for free. You just can't do better than that in my opinion, and that is why I use them.

While you're studying HTML at w3schools, it often helps to have a place to practice online. Getting your hands dirty is a great way to apply - and retain - the knowledge you absorb. Getting an account on a free hosting site like 110mb - the best hosting site I've found - is a great way to practice what you're learning by creating a website for practice. And when you're done, you've not only learned HTML, but you have a working website you designed yourself.