SQL Server 2008, switching to simple recovery mode Currently our transaction log is 50 GB; impressive huh?

I want to switch to simple recovery mode and remove the transaction log entirely.

Do I need to stop any user activity and detach the database. Or can I simply go into management studio and change the recovery mode.  How do I then remove the file ?

Edit:

I switched the live server to simple recovery mode, and then performed a shrink file. Has worked perfectly so far. The file is now 1mb. 

(I  am aware switching to simple mode will restrict recovery : I won't be able to go to s specific point in time, only to when the last back up was.)
What exactly do you mean by "remove the transaction log entirely"? I only ask because if you mean that literally the only possible answer is "You can't do that and have a working database".

This is a good article to explain the implications of changes to recovery mode and what it does for you.

Can't remember if all the steps are needed, but what I did last time was change recover mode to simple, carry out a backup then carry out a file shrink operation on the database (Right click on the database in the management centre and choose the option to shrink files that's in there somewhere)