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London's benchmark FTSE 100 index fell 0.2 percent to 6,084.51 points compared with Monday's close.
In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX 30 index lost 0.1 percent to 9,482.66 points and the Paris CAC 40 retreated 0.2 percent to open at 4,343.93.
US indices finished a choppy session lower Monday in a move attributed to profit-taking after recent large gains, while European markets had begun the week mixed.
On Tuesday, Chinese bourses led Asian markets higher, shrugging off more poor manufacturing data from the world's second biggest economy.