Its not a scary or clinical environment at all. My ward has a patients kitchen which is always stocked with tea, coffee, bread, juice, cereals, jam/butter, biscuits, cake slices and fruit. You can just help yourself.
It all depends really. If its quiet, how many other mums/high needs patients they have in. My second admission I was the only patient there, so lots of 1:1 time, by the end the ward was full.
If your levels allow (I.e. you don't need constant supervision) you are allowed to leave the ward during the day as you want. There are twice weekly meetings with the doctors.
It can get boring, especially if you're not allowed to leave, so take stuff to keep you occupied.
As with anywhere there are good and bad nurses, I would advise being clear in your care plans (that they should write with you) what support you think you need from staff.
My ward is apparently one of the leading/largest in the UK, and it only had 6 rooms, so its not teaming. A lot of mums get a lot of leave so they're not around. As you get better they increase your leave so you end up only going in once a week for the drs meeting. They don't (or didn't for me) discharge you suddenly, its a loooonnnng process.
My first admission I was only really in for a couple of weeks, got a lot of help with breastfeeding then had lots of leave. I deteriorated lots and was readmitted, and was on level2 (constant obs, nurse with you at all times) for quite a while- not really sure how long as its all a bit hazy. Then I started getting better due to being forced to stop breastfeeding and starting medication. Leave was increased, my partner would pick me up on his way home from work, I'd sleep at home, then go back in the morning, he'd drop me off on his way to work.
I'd advise taking your own (single) bedding in.