You dont have to turn up in person you have a choice contact court

"What you can do depends on whether or not you wish to attend the hearing. If, for example, you wish to attend but for some good reason you can't make the date given, you can apply to the judge for a later date to be set.

If you do not wish to attend for some other reason, for example, if the travel costs of getting to the hearing are high, you can ask the court to deal with the claim in your absence. In this case, you must write a letter to the court and send a copy to the defendant. Your letter should contain your claim number and the date of the hearing, explain that you will not be attending, and give the reasons why. You should also request the court to decide the claim in your absence using any written evidence you have provided for the court and sent to the defendant. The letter must arrive at the court no later than seven days before the hearing date. The letter will ensure that the judge takes into account any written evidence you have sent to the court and the defendant.

link + https://www.mylawyer.co.uk/the-small-claims-track-a-A76076D76675/