Continental Europe

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Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands and, at times, peninsulas. Notably, in British English usage, the term means Europe excluding the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, Ireland and Iceland. One general definition of "Continental Europe" is the European landmass excluding the UK, Ireland and Iceland. However, different areas of Europe have their own ideas on what the term actually means.

Political Map (neighbouring countries in Asia and Africa also shown)

Use in the UK

In the United Kingdom, the Continent is used to refer to the mainland of Europe. A famous, perhaps apocryphal, British newspaper headline once read "Fog in Channel; Continent Cut Off".^[1][2]

The Nordic concept

In Nordic usage, UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, Iceland, and Finland are excluded.

Mediterranean islands

In the Mediterranean context, "the continent" may refer to the continental part of Italy (as opposed to Sardinia and Sicily) or the continental part of France (as opposed to Corsica).

References

See also

• Mainland

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