We present CCD BVI photometry of the old open cluster Berkeley 21, one of the most distant clusters in the Galactic anticentre direction, and possibly the lowest metallicity object in the open clusters sample. Its position and metal abundance make it very important for the study of the Galactic disc. Using the synthetic colour-magnitude diagram method, we estimate values for the distance modulus (m-M)_0_=13.4-13.6, reddening E(B-V)=0.74-0.78 (with possible differential absorption), and age= 2.2-2.5Gyr.