Director Shareholding

Next PLC
3 July 2001

Document Dated 2 July 2001

Next ESOP Trust

On 2 July 2001 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 546,354 Ordinary Shares of 10p
each in Next plc to satisfy share options exercised by employees of the Company.

Executive Directors of Next plc who are participants in the Company share option
schemes are deemed to be discretionary beneficiaries of the Trust and are
consequently considered to be interested in all of the shares held by the Trust
which amount to 7,170,341.

Directors

Mr D C Jones and Mr A J Varley today exercised options granted to them under the
Company Sharesave Option Scheme as follows:

                        Quantity of                 Purchase Price
                        Ordinary Shares             Per Share

David Charles Jones               1,381                     414.4p
Andrew John Varley                1,248                     414.4p

P W K Webber
Company Secretary