We present B, V photometry of Leo I obtained with the Lick 2048 x 2048
CCD installed at the prime focus of the CFHT. The colour-magnitude di
agram to V = 22.2 shows a wide giant branch and a red clump indicative
of the presence of an intermediate-age population. Our observations d
o not detect any 'blue' horizontal branch. The apparent magnitudes of
the red clump and of the carbon stars lead to a distance estimate of 2
05 +/- 25 kpc for Leo 1. We deduce, from the mean colour and the width
of the giant branch, a value of [Fe/H] = - 1.6 and an upper limit in
abundance dispersion of 0.25 dex. V magnitudes and B - V colours of th
e known carbon stars are given, and two additional carbon star candida
tes are identified. The Hodge & Wright variables are located, and a sh
ort list of magnitudes and colours is presented.