List all the tables in a database

SELECT * FROM sysobjects WHERE xtype='U'

Here is a list of other object types you can search for as well:

• C: Check constraint
• D: Default constraint
• F: Foreign Key constraint
• L: Log
• P: Stored procedure
• PK: Primary Key constraint
• RF: Replication Filter stored procedure
• S: System table
• TR: Trigger
• U: User table
• UQ: Unique constraint
• V: View
• X: Extended stored procedure

In SQL Server 2012, you can use

SELECT * FROM information_schema.tables where table_type='BASE TABLE'

You can also use

select * from sys.tables