Generally, a continental breakfast means pastries, bread, preserves, possibly cheese and cold meats, fruit juice, coffee, cereal and maybe some fresh fruit too. An English breakfast implies cooked food, such as bacon and egg, toast, and maybe other side dishes like grilled tomato - depending on where you are, it could also include regional specialties, like kippers or black pudding. Basic difference between continental and English is one is cold, based around carbohydrates and the other is hot, based around protein - preferably fried!!