Director Shareholding

Next PLC
20 July 2004


Next plc

Next ESOP Trust

The Next ESOP Trust has purchased the following Ordinary Shares of 10p each in
Next plc:

Date of Acquisition           No. of Shares           Price per Share

   16 July 2004                  162,839                 1449.9212p
   19 July 2004                  135,051                 1444.8843p

The Next ESOP Trust was established for the benefit of employees of companies in
the Next plc Group.

On 20 July 2004 the Next ESOP Trust disposed of 21,270 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 9,259,710.

Mr A J R McKinlay
Company Secretary
Next plc


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