Continental Europe is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding the European islands and peninsulae.
In British and Irish usage , Great Britain and Ireland are excluded. In the English-speaking mind, Continental Europe (often simply called the Continent by the British) is foremost represented by the Benelux, Germany and especially France.
In Scandinavian usage, the British Isles, Scandinavia, Iceland and Finland are excluded.
See also: Mainland