I'm currently an American in the states looking to move to London this summer. I have 3+ years professional writing experience at well-respected, nationally recognized newspapers in the U.S., with additional experience at a large, daily college student newspaper and an internship at a London magazine.

I'm planning on moving without a job lined up (risky I know, but I'm young, have no comittments and have enough savings to last me 3-6 months with no income). I have distant family there and a fellow American friend of mine will be graduating from Oxford this summer, and we plan to share a flat in London and try to find jobs. She's in a better position because she already lives there and has a National Insurance number.

I'm basically just looking for any advice you can offer in moving there and finding a job/ freelance work. I realize that depsite my experience I'll be at a disadvantage because an employer would have to file for a work permit, but this is something I've thought about for a long time and the timing seems right to take the risk.

Specific questions include:
Since I don't have a work visa, is the best way to go there through a tourist visa? I know technically I wouldn't be allowed to work until an employer applied for a work permit for me, and I might have to leave the country if and when this happens. Is this the best way? I've looked into the Highly Skilled Migrant Workers visa, and I would be eligible except for the fact that writers are universally underpaid and I don't make enough to garner extra points.

I'm also wondering if I can obtain a National Insurance number without a job/ work visa or does the job come first and then the insurance number?

Thanks for any and all help and advice.