The FTSE 100 closed up 0.45% or 31.24 points at 7017.6, supported by a a rise in commodity stocks linked to a positive trading update by Anglo American.
Across Europe, the French Cac 40 and the German Dax closed lower, down around 0.26% and 0.04% respectively.
In oil markets, Brent crude fell 1.2% to 50.80 US dollars per barrel amid uncertainty over which producers would be included in Opec's tentative supply freeze. Iraq was reportedly seeking an exemption from the deal.
On the FTSE 100, resource-linked shares rallied after Anglo American maintained its output guidance and reported better market conditions for its diamond unit.
Anglo American topped the index, rising 48.5p to 1114p. It pushed other commodity stocks higher, including Rio Tinto which rose 120.5p to 2796p, Glencore which jumped 8.55p to 146.15p, and Randgold Resources which rose 215p to 7200p.
Whitbread was the worst performing stock on the blue chip index, falling 144p to 3699p despite despite reporting a 3.4% rise in pre-tax profit to £263.6 million in the first half of the year, while revenue grew 8.1% to £1.56 billion.
Whitbread said that it will closely monitor the risk of a "wider macro-economic effect as a result of the UK leaving the EU, including foreign exchange and interest rate fluctuations".
Costa Coffee owner Whitbread flagged up plans to tap the artisan coffee market.
The group, which also owns Premier Inn, reported that like-for-like sales at Costa continued to bounce back, growing 2.3% in the period, while Premier Inn saw a comparable sales increase of 2.4%.
Whitbread chief executive Alison Brittain said: "We are trialling new 'finer' coffee concepts, introducing a new fresher food range and making good progress rolling out our Costa Pronto and Drive Thru formats."
The company opened its first "finer coffee" concept store in London's Covent Garden in June, which sells artisan coffee and an "enhanced beverage range". A second store opened in Wandsworth, south-west London, this month.
Ms Brittain said that despite "uncertainty in the UK's economic outlook, the group expects to deliver in line with full-year expectations".
GKN also clocked losses, dropping 9.3p to 313.9p after the engineering group warned that growth rates would ease in its major markets due to slightly tougher economic conditions.
Intu shares fell 5p to 286.2p as the shopping centre owner shrugged off the closure of BHS stores and cheered the strength of Britain's commercial property sector after securing a higher price for its Bromley site after the Brexit vote.
Travel stocks were little moved by the Government's backing for a third runway at Heathrow Airport. TUI shares closed 16p lower at 1029p, while International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) dropped 3p to 401.8p, and EasyJet fell 6.5p to 925p.
The biggest winners on the FTSE 100 were Anglo American up 48.5p to 1114p, Rio Tinto up 120.5p to 2796p, Glencore up 8.55p to 146.15p, and Randgold Resources up 215p to 7200p.
The biggest losers were Whitbread down 144p to 3699p, Travis Perkins down 46p at 1346p, GKN down 9.3p to 313.9p, and Pearson down 15p at 746.5p.
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